The Surselva village of Valendas in Graubünden has been named "Best Tourism Village" by the world tourism organization UN Tourism. This means that Swiss tourism can now boast ten villages with this award.

UN Tourism received over 270 applications from 65 member states for the fifth edition of this international initiative.

Applications were open to tourist villages where traditional activities such as agriculture and forestry are important, which use tourism as a means of promoting and preserving their cultural heritage, and which are committed to sustainable tourism development.

A Swiss jury consisting of representatives from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Tourism Federation and Switzerland Tourism submitted the candidatures of the two villages of Evolène in Valais and Valendas in Graubünden to UN Tourism this summer as the Swiss pre-selection.

Valendas ultimately also convinced the international jury of the UN specialized agency for tourism. The official award ceremony for the "Best Tourism Villages" took place at the third annual BTV network meeting in the Chinese city of Huzhou.

Uh-oh. Does this mean one of my favorite Swiss areas is now going to be overrun?

Of course not!
Valendas will not bne more "overrun" than the other Swiss "Best Tourism Villages":
Romoos and Spluegen (2024)
Morcote and St-Ursanne (2023)
Andermatt and Murten (2022)
Poschiavo and Saas Fee (2021)

Andermatt? It's a mess these days.

Visited Morcote last month - not yet ruined, fortunately.