UN Best Tourism Villages: Chamarel and GRSE Awarded in 2025... The Country Now Has Six Awarded Villages
Chamarel and Grande Rivière Sud-Est have been inducted into the exclusive group of "UN Best Tourism Villages". These two villages were awarded in the 2025 edition, joining Le Morne and Vieux Grand Port, which were honored in the inaugural edition in 2021, as well as Roches-Noires and Grand-Baie, recognized in the 2024 edition.
Since the launch of the Best Tourism Villages initiative by UN Tourism in 2021, Mauritius has established itself as a leader in sustainable rural tourism in Africa.
The "Best Tourism Villages" initiative aims to make tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development, and community well-being, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It also seeks to enhance the role of tourism in valuing and preserving villages.
In Mauritius, the Ministry of Tourism acts as the central coordinating body and focal point for UN Tourism initiatives in the country. In close collaboration with local authorities, the ministry oversees the selection process of villages that meet the criteria established by UN Tourism for participation in the initiative, gathers essential data, and ensures the proper preparation and online submission of applications along with necessary supporting documents.
To be considered for the Best Tourism Villages initiative, villages must meet several essential eligibility criteria, including:
• a low population density (not exceeding 15,000 inhabitants);
• a location in a rural environment where traditional activities such as agriculture or fishing are practiced;
• and strong community cohesion.
Once eligible, villages are assessed by an independent Advisory Council based on nine key areas: cultural and natural resources, preservation of cultural heritage, economic, social, and environmental sustainability, tourism development, governance, infrastructure, connectivity, and overall health, safety, and security.
In 2024, with four recognized villages, Mauritius ranked at the top of the African continent, standing out among seven African countries recognized by UN Tourism for their commitment to sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. For the 2025 edition, five villages submitted their applications – Bel Ombre, Chamarel, GRSE, Souillac, and Trou-aux-Biches.
Chamarel and GRSE were proudly recognized as Best Tourism Villages at the awards ceremony held on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
This new distinction highlights the cultural richness, tourism potential, and growing appeal of rural regions in Mauritius.
Mauritius's participation in the "Best Tourism Villages" initiative by UN Tourism brings significant benefits that extend well beyond international awards.
This global recognition enhances Mauritius's visibility as an exemplary rural tourism destination, placing its villages on the global map for their cultural authenticity, sustainability, and community development.
Furthermore, the recognized villages join the exclusive “Best Tourism Villages Network,” providing Mauritius with a valuable platform to collaborate with other UN Tourism member states, share knowledge, and adopt best international practices in rural tourism development.
Tourism Minister Richard Duval stated that it is a “pride and honor for the country” that these two villages have entered the exclusive group of “UN Best Tourism Villages.”
“It is evident that this pleases me as Minister of Tourism, especially since it aligns with the new vision of the ministry to develop domestic tourism. We want tourists to explore more of the inland areas. In this context, we need to show that there are other things to discover in our country besides the sun, beaches, and sand. That is why this title of Best UN Tourism Village is important because the competition includes villages from all over the world, judged by criteria such as: (i) the practice of traditional activities like agriculture or fishing; (ii) strong community cohesion; (iii) preservation of cultural heritage; (iv) economic, social, and environmental sustainability; (v) tourism and infrastructure development; (vi) health and safety.”