During the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, the results of the first edition of the initiative “Best Tourism Villages / Best Villages in Tourism” were announced, and among those selected in the category for “Improvement Program” are the villages of Godinje from Bar and Gornja Lastva from Tivat. Through the mentioned Program, it was announced that these villages will be supported by the UNWTO and its partners, in order to improve the existing potentials and further promote the offer. According to the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), through the initiative “Best Villages in Tourism”, UNWTO member countries had the right to apply with three proposals, and out of a total of 174 applications, 44 villages were declared the best. As they add, part of this initiative is the “Improvement Program” for which 20 villages from all over the world have been selected, and Montenegro is the only country from which as many as two villages have been included. Through the mentioned Program, it was announced that these villages will be supported by the UNWTO and its partners, in order to improve the existing potentials and further promote the offer. “The letter sent by UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili to Minister of Economic Development Jakov Milatovic states that Godinje and Gornja Lastva will receive the support of this organization in order to work together to improve the role of tourism in preserving rural areas. The letter points out that tourism should be a driver of development, in order to properly valorize villages and preserve their cultural and natural wealth, as well as authentic values, “the ministry said in a statement. The session of the General Assembly is attended by 500 delegates, including the Ministers of Tourism of the member states, representatives of numerous partner organizations, leaders from the private and public sectors in the field of tourism. At this session, Montenegro is represented by the Acting Director General for Development Policies in Tourism at the Ministry of Economic Development, Aleksandra Gardašević Slavuljica. “The General Assembly is also an opportunity to discuss the UNWTO's response to the impact of the pandemic and mutual cooperation between member states. “During this important event for tourism, some of the main topics were innovation, youth empowerment and the relationship between tourism and rural development,” the statement concluded.
