Two villages in Ukraine, Kolochava and Synevyrska Polyana, have been included in the list of the most attractive tourist destinations compiled by the UN. This was reported by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
This year, the ranking featured 52 villages from various parts of the world, including Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The villages were selected from over 270 submitted applications from 65 countries that are UN members in the field of tourism.
Additionally, 20 villages have joined the renewal initiative, which supports locations with high potential for sustainable tourism development but have yet to make it to the main list.
Thus, 72 villages are now part of the global Best Tourism Villages network, which the UN creates annually to support rural tourism that maintains authenticity and improves local residents' livelihoods.
The BTV ranking highlights villages that exemplify sustainable tourism development. The villages included in the list are characterized by significant cultural and natural resources, careful preservation of local traditions and values, as well as successful economic, social, and ecological development.
About Kolochava and Synevyrska Polyana
Kolochava village is located in the Khust district of the Transcarpathian region, within the territory of the "Synevyr" National Nature Park. It lies in a picturesque mountain valley between the pastures of Strymba, Darvaika, Barvinok, Krasna, and Ruzha. The village features a "Bird Park" and several museums: "Old Village", "Kolochava Narrow Gauge", "Steyr Bunker", among others. Kolochava was home to the last Carpathian outlaw, Mykola Shuhai. This village is mentioned in 40 books and 15 films. It also has a military historical site — the Arpad Line, a Hungarian defense system from World War II.
Synevyrska Polyana boasts its proximity to Lake Synevyr and the "Wolf Valley" eco-park. The village is home to an architectural landmark — a wooden church dedicated to the Protection of the Holy Virgin and a bell tower dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
