Five Ukrainian villages will compete for the title of the world’s best tourist villages in 2026
11 June 04:11
The State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, together with experts, has selected five Ukrainian villages and towns to represent the country in the international UN Tourism project—The Best Tourism Villages 2026. This was reported on the Facebook page of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The list includes settlements that preserve their authenticity, develop local tourism, and have a strong cultural or natural identity.
The State Agency for Tourism Development emphasizes that this program is important not only for the country’s tourism image but also for the communities themselves. The goal is to support places where traditions are preserved, local businesses are developed, cultural and natural heritage is cared for, and new opportunities for development are created.
Which Ukrainian villages and towns made the cut
This year, five settlements will represent Ukraine in the international competition:
- Opishnia in Poltava Oblast — a renowned center of Ukrainian pottery
- Vygoda in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast — a hub for ecotourism and the Carpathian Tram routes
- Kryvorivnia in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast — the cultural and spiritual center of Hutsulshchyna
- Medzhybizh in Khmelnytskyi Oblast — a town with a famous fortress and a rich historical and cultural heritage
- Kytayhorod in Khmelnytskyi Oblast — an area where natural landscapes and historical landmarks converge.
Each of these locations has its own unique tourism history and has the potential to become a major attraction not only for Ukrainian travelers but also for international visitors.
Why Ukraine Should Participate in The Best Tourism Villages
The international program The Best Tourism Villages is designed to support rural communities that preserve their identity while developing sustainable tourism. For Ukraine, participation in such a project is a chance to more loudly promote its unique destinations on the global tourism map.
DART believes that such participation will help:
- promote Ukrainian tourist destinations abroad;
- support local communities;
- popularize Ukraine’s cultural heritage;
- discover new travel routes within the country.
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What the State Agency for Tourism Development Says
Natalia Tabaka, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development, emphasized that this initiative is first and foremost about people who preserve traditions and infuse them with modern meaning.
According to her, it is precisely these communities that not only preserve their identity but also create new opportunities for development, quality of life, and local business.
The agency also emphasizes that supporting such villages helps gradually generate interest in Ukraine among visitors from around the world.
When will the results be announced?
The results of the global selection process under the UN-World Tourism Organization program are scheduled to be announced in late 2026.
That is when it will become clear whether Ukrainian villages and towns will be able to earn the status of the world’s best tourist villages.
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