Four villages from Türkiye have earned global recognition in the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Best Tourism Villages 2025 list, reaffirming the nation’s growing leadership in sustainable and rural tourism.

The honored locations — Akyaka in Muğla, Barbaros in İzmir, Anıtlı (also known as Hah) in Mardin’s Midyat district, and Kale Üçağız in Antalya — were selected for their heritage preservation, ecological awareness, and strong local involvement in tourism development.

Global Recognition for Rural Excellence

The UNWTO revealed this year’s winners at a ceremony held in Huzhou, China on October 17, 2025. The 2025 edition recognized 52 villages from 29 countries, chosen from over 270 applications submitted by 65 member states. An additional 20 villages were added to the Upgrade Programme, which helps promising destinations progress toward full recognition in future editions.

The four Turkish winners embody the program’s focus on how tourism can drive sustainable development, protect cultural heritage, and boost local economies. The UN initiative, now in its fifth year, evaluates candidate villages across nine key areas, including environmental management, economic sustainability, tourism integration, infrastructure, and cultural preservation.

Voices from Türkiye

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy congratulated the communities, calling them “symbols of Türkiye’s natural and cultural wealth.” He emphasized that rural tourism represents “not only an economic activity but also a force that protects our heritage, supports local development, and places people at the center”.

The minister credited local administrations, the Directorate of EU and Foreign Relations, and civil society partners for preparing detailed submissions that showcased each village’s heritage and community-driven sustainability plans.

Spotlight on the Turkish Winners

Each of the four selected villages highlights a unique aspect of Anatolia’s cultural mosaic:

1. Akyaka (Muğla): A picturesque coastal settlement on the Gulf of Gökova, known for its wooden architecture, slow-food culture, and eco-friendly tourism model that has earned it Cittaslow (slow city) status.
2. Barbaros (İzmir): A village celebrated for its traditional craft festivals, rural guesthouses, and initiatives empowering local women through tourism.
3. Anıtlı (Mardin): Also called Hah in Syriac, this ancient Christian village in Tur Abdin boasts historic monasteries and a living Assyrian cultural heritage dating back over 1,600 years.
4. Kale Üçağız (Antalya): Nestled on the Lycian coast, it features ancient ruins, protected marine ecosystems, and community-led efforts to regulate visitor flows while preserving the coastal environment.

Global Context

The Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched in 2021 to promote tourism as a force for rural development, safeguarding traditions while building future resilience. Since its inception, more than 300 villages globally have joined the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages Network, creating a global platform for knowledge exchange and sustainable development partnerships.​

Türkiye’s showing in the 2025 selection continues its strong participation in the program, following earlier wins by Göreme, Mustafapaşa, and Taraklı in previous editions. As the 2025 results reaffirm, Türkiye remains a global model for integrating sustainable tourism into community life while celebrating the deep cultural and natural richness that defines Anatolia.

King Abdulaziz International Airport has continued to set unprecedented records since the beginning of this year, starting 2026 with exceptional performance during January. The total number of passengers reached 5.45 million, achieving a growth rate of 7.3% compared to the same month in 2025.

The airport also recorded a total of 29,200 flights, reflecting an 11% growth compared to the same period last year. The total number of baggage handled amounted to 6.6 million bags, with an 8% increase compared to January of the previous year.

The airport experienced its highest operational week in history, with 1.28 million passengers between January 11 and 17, 2026, highlighting the ongoing operational momentum. Additionally, January 17 marked the airport's highest operational day, with 195,300 passengers and 1,089 flights, demonstrating the efficiency of operational processes and the infrastructure's readiness to meet the growing demand for travel.

These results are part of Jeddah Airports Company’s efforts to enhance the travel experience, meet passenger needs, and provide more travel options, in line with the accelerating growth in air traffic and aligned with the aviation program's objectives.

It is noteworthy that Jeddah Airports Company has been managing and operating King Abdulaziz International Airport since its establishment in 2022, and is working on implementing the aviation program derived from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, in line with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Singapore was named the world’s second-richest country in 2025 based on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, though its standing declined once average working hours were factored into the analysis, according to The Economist.

With a GDP per capita of about US$90,700, the city-state trailed only Switzerland, which led the list at roughly US$100,000. Norway followed closely in third at US$86,800. However, when adjusted for hours worked, Norway overtook its rivals to claim the top position globally, while Qatar and Denmark secured second and third places respectively. Singapore fell to eighth place, ranking just behind the Netherlands under the new measure.

Figures from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower indicated that local employees clocked an average of 43.3 working hours per week in 2024. In contrast, data from the International Labour Organisation showed that Norwegian workers averaged just 33.2 hours weekly over the same period — a significant gap that contributed to Norway’s rise in the adjusted rankings.

In a related study conducted by Remote.com, Singapore ranked 25th out of 60 nations in the 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index, earning a score of 57.85 out of 100. New Zealand, Ireland, and Belgium dominated the list with scores of 86.87, 81.17, and 75.91 respectively. Despite its mid-tier ranking overall, Singapore remained Asia’s best-performing country for work-life balance.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again set a new global benchmark, winning the coveted title of “World’s Leading Airport” at the 2025 World Travel Awards (WTA). The UAE’s flagship aviation hub triumphed over more than 20 top global competitors — including Singapore’s Changi Airport, London Heathrow, and Doha’s Hamad International — to secure the honor for the sixth consecutive year.

The World Travel Awards, widely regarded as the “Oscars of the travel industry,” recognize outstanding achievements in travel, tourism, and hospitality. Established in 1993, the awards are decided through votes from travel industry professionals and the general public across more than 200 countries.

According to Dubai Airports, DXB served a record-breaking 92.3 million passengers in 2024, surpassing its pre-pandemic peak of 89.1 million in 2018. The milestone reaffirms DXB’s position as the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic, a title it has consistently held since 2014.

By late 2025, officials projected annual traffic to exceed 95 million passengers, reflecting Dubai’s continuing growth as a global aviation and tourism hub.

Serving as the primary base for Emirates Airline and flydubai, DXB connects travelers to over 240 destinations across six continents via nearly 100 international carriers. The airport features an extensive range of world-class facilities — including luxury lounges, a five-star hotel (Dubai International Hotel), zen gardens, an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and cinema halls — designed to enhance passenger comfort and experience.

Commenting on the recognition, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the award “reflects the commitment of thousands of people who work tirelessly to make DXB the best in the world, driven by innovation, hospitality, and operational efficiency.”

In contrast, Singapore’s Changi Airport, long celebrated for its architectural marvels such as the Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, faced increased scrutiny in 2025 following passenger complaints about baggage delays.

The airport operator, Changi Airport Group, later issued a public apology and announced service enhancements to restore its signature efficiency standards.

Dubai’s achievement underscores the Emirate’s strategic investment in aviation infrastructure and its vital role in positioning the UAE as a top global gateway. Industry analysts view DXB’s consistent success as a reflection of Dubai’s broader ambition — to maintain its leadership in global connectivity and tourism excellence.

Etihad Airways has triumphed at the 2025 World Travel Awards, bringing home three prestigious titles: World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class for its Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport. These accolades were presented to the airline at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Bahrain.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, expressed his pride in the achievements, saying, "Winning three global titles is a testament to the passion and dedication our entire team brings to every journey. These awards reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across all cabins and touchpoints, from the moment our guests arrive at Zayed International Airport to their in-flight journey."

Etihad was nominated in 13 categories, including World’s Leading Airline, World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme (Etihad Guest), and World’s Leading Airline Cabin Crew. The airline’s hub at Zayed International Airport was also nominated for World’s Leading Airport and World’s Leading Airport Customer Experience.

2025 has been a record-breaking year for Etihad, marked by significant growth and innovation. A key milestone was the introduction of the new A321LR aircraft, enhancing the airline’s short- and medium-haul offerings. This aircraft features widebody comfort with two private First Class suites, 14 fully-flat Business Class seats, and 144 spacious Economy seats—all equipped with 4K screens and high-speed Wi-Fi. The A321LR’s addition strengthens Etihad’s premium offering strategy and provides an elevated travel experience on more routes with increased frequency.

Neves emphasized the impact of the A321LR, stating, "With this new aircraft, we offer a world-class experience on more routes, making it easier for guests to discover everything Abu Dhabi has to offer. Every improvement we’ve made reflects our commitment to providing travelers with the highest levels of comfort and care."

Earlier this year, Etihad also received five regional awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2025, including World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience and World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class.

The World Travel Awards are widely regarded as the ultimate recognition of excellence within the travel industry, having been established over 30 years ago to celebrate the best in travel, tourism, and hospitality.

flynas, the world’s leading low-cost carrier and the Middle East’s best LCC, has been honored with the Operational Excellence Award at the 2025 oneDXB Airport Excellence Awards, organized by Dubai Airports.The airline outperformed more than 100 regional and international carriers operating at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

This recognition at one of the world’s busiest airports underscores flynas’ commitment to excellence, innovation, and operational efficiency, as well as its continuous efforts to enhance the guest experience. The achievement also supports the airline’s growth and expansion strategy and its contribution to Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to connect the Kingdom to over 250 international destinations.

Dubai Airports, which operates and manages both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), highlighted that this year’s oneDXB Airport Excellence Awards introduced a renewed format. The awards celebrate partners that deliver exceptional travel experiences and uphold Dubai Airports’ vision of maintaining world-class operational standards amid growing passenger volumes.

flynas, the first airline listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), currently operates 139 routes to over 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries, with more than 2,000 weekly flights. Since its launch in 2007, the airline has carried over 80 million passengers and aims to expand its network to 165 destinations, in alignment with Vision 2030 and its long-term growth objectives.