"Nishikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture" and "Amagi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture" selected as the best tourism villages of the United Nations

On November 14, 2024, Nishikawa Town in Yamagata Prefecture and Amagi Town in Kagoshima Prefecture were selected as "Best Tourism Villages (BTV)" sponsored by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which recognizes excellent rural tourism areas. (Photo: Amami black rabbit that can be met on a night tour / Amagicho ©denpaku)

For the 2024 Best Tourism Village, 55 regions were selected from more than 260 applicants around the world for their value as sustainable tourist destinations.

This time, Nishikawa Town in Yamagata Prefecture and Amagi Town in Kagoshima Prefecture were newly certified from Japan, adding Niseko Town in Hokkaido, Miyama Town in Nantan City in Kyoto Prefecture, Biei Town in Hokkaido Hokkaido, Okumatsushima District in Miyagi Prefecture, Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, and Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture, bringing the total number of certified regions in Japan to eight.

Nishikawa, Yamagata

Nishikawa Town is a town that spreads out at the foot of Mt. Tsuki, a sacred place of mountain worship, and is attractive for its cultural resources and natural beauty, and summer mountain climbing and winter activities are the pillars of tourism. Nishikawa Town says, "We want to support the development of new tourism content by tourism operators, such as access to places that were previously inaccessible."

Amagi, Kagoshima

Amagi Town is located in the northwestern part of Tokunoshima Island in the Amami Islands, and is characterized by a rich natural environment that is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site. Amagi Town has expressed its willingness to "propose tourism rooted in daily life by refining tourism resources and training eco-tour guides."

Certified regions are expected to gain international recognition with the support of UN Tourism. In addition, preferential treatment for subsidized projects of the Japan Tourism Agency is applied in Japan.

In addition, the "Upgrade Program" aimed at future certification has selected Yamakoshi Village in Niigata Prefecture and Hakusan District in Fukui Prefecture.