Ordino is already one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world
Published:
Oct 25, 2023
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1 Sustainability, sustainability and sustainability
Once again this year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) wanted to recognize those towns that have done the most to highlight their cultural heritage, preserve environmental values, and be a unique rural destination. For this third edition, 260 nominations were submitted, but only 54 of them managed to be distinguished as "Best Tourism Villages 2023".
The Parish of Ordino was among them. The Andorran town had already been distinguished in 2020 as a Biosphere Book by UNESCO, which allows us to ski and enjoy the mountain in a unique environment recognized at environmental and landscape level.
Now it has wanted to complete that distinction, claiming that the same love they have for their mountains, they also have for their tourism management model, the effort for sustainability and the work of the business community.
And what better place for this recognition than Samarkand (Uzbekistan), the magical city of 'The Thousand and One Nights'. There, the UNWTO recognized Ordino as "Best Tourism Villages 2023", which allows it to become part of a global network of towns that share similar characteristics and problems, so that, apart from the synergies that may arise from this collaboration between them, it will also be a boost to promotion. And thanks to this platform, the tourist offer of the parish will become even more visible.
To grant this recognition the UNWTO assured that Ordino is "an example of sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility", valuing at the same time that it offers authentic tourist experiences or cultural routes such as the Rossell House and the Areny Plandolit House, as well as as well as guided excursions based on its cultural and natural heritage, such as "La última Osa de Ordino", which has received recognition as intangible world heritage by UNESCO, as well as Les Falles, the Festival de Sant Pere and the Festival de Música Clàssica de Ordino.
It was also valued that autochthonous legacies are maintained thanks to the efforts of farmers and ranchers who conserve fields and forests, grow vegetables and tobacco and raise animals such as cows, sheep, chickens, horses and foals. Their commitment to society and the biosphere reserve allows them to apply sustainable techniques and continuous improvement while respecting the environment.
And in the natural environment, sites such as the Sorteny Valley Natural Park, core of the Biosphere Book.
Skiing in Ordino means skiing in a Biosphere Book recognized by UNESCO.
Sustainability, sustainability and sustainability
Another aspect that the Parish of Ordino is promoting is sustainability in all aspects, with the aim of creating the least negative impact. And this has been ably discovered by the UNWTO, which has highlighted that Ordino is making an effort to promote:
- Economic sustainability through tourism, promoting for example through the Ordino dynamization table, the seals of companies committed to the Biosphere Book.
- Social sustainability: often working with the Government of Andorra.
- Environmental sustainability, which is particularly evident in the measures linked to the Biosphere Book, the commitment to public transport and the implementation of renewable energies in public facilities, which also contribute to the fight against climate change.
In short, it has been recognized that the parish has managed to balance economic development with cultural and environmental conservation and this makes it a benchmark in responsible tourism and a "model to follow in the international tourism panorama".
In the framework of the act of delivery of the accreditation, the major consul, Josep Àngel Mortés, emphasized that this recognition.
"It is the result of years of work and planning, where Ordino has done a good job in the design and development of the tourism management model, of its business fabric, of the emphasis on sustainability and the recovery of cultural traditions.
On the other hand, it is necessary to continue the commitment to deseasonalize the offer to be able to receive visitors all year round. Being part of a network will undoubtedly serve to enhance the promotion of the parish and pursue this goal, and incidentally recognize all those who in recent years have worked for sustainable tourism."
Oridno is already a "Best Tourism Village", which will help it to promote sustainable tourism all year round.
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