India, 28th October 2025: At an official ceremony held on October 17, 2025 in China, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) announced the inclusion of the ecological, cooperative community Kibbutz Neot Semadar, located in Israel’s Southern Arava, in the prestigious Best Tourism Villages (BTV) network for 2025. The list honours rural destinations leading in sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and innovation.
Israel’s minister of Tourism, Haim Katz said, “Congratulations to Kibbutz Neot Semadar, which represents the best of the Israeli spirit – combining innovation, sustainability, and community. We are proud to have promoted the kibbutz’s candidacy and its achievement of the prestigious Best Tourism Villages 2025 title. This recognition is another step in the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts within the framework of UN Tourism. It reflects the international acknowledgment of Israel’s uniqueness and its high-quality sustainable tourism. We will continue to position Israel as a desirable and responsible tourism destination.”
Kibbutz Neot Semadar, founded in 1989, is home to about 250 residents – kibbutz members, families, children, and volunteers from Israel and abroad. It is a unique model of an ecological cooperative community that combines art, agriculture, and environmental awareness in everyday life.
Visitors to Neot Semadar can enjoy a distinctive desert tourism experience, featuring the Art Center – an architectural masterpiece built by community members over 15 years, an organic boutique winery, a local restaurant-cafe, eco-lodge, art workshops, and stargazing next to the Weizmann Institute’s telescope. Neot Semadar embodies tourism innovation, sustainability, and art, serving as an inspiration for rural and eco-tourism in Israel and around the world.
The Ministry of Tourism initiated and led the kibbutz’s nomination as part of a broader strategy to promote unique local communities on the global stage. In collaboration with the Eilot Regional Council, the ministry provided professional guidance, assisted in preparing materials, and liaised with the international jury – recognizing that such an achievement benefits both the local community and the regional and national tourism image of Israel.
This marks Israel’s second recognition in the prestigious UN Tourism list following Kfar Kama, a Circassian village in the Lower Galilee, which was selected in 2022.
The official letter received from UN Tourism congratulated the Ministry and community on this achievement, recognizing the cultural and natural richness of Neot Semadar and its commitment to sustainability in its ecological, social, and economic dimensions.
Dr. Hanan Ginat, Head of the Eilot Regional Council – Southern Arava said, “Neot Semadar’s inclusion in the UN Tourism Best Villages network is an emotional and proud moment for the entire Southern Arava region. It represents international recognition of the community’s vision and dedication, reflecting the values we promote every day – sustainability, innovation, and cooperation. Neot Semadar places the Southern Arava and Israel on the global tourism map, and we will continue developing distinctive desert tourism that attracts visitors from Israel and abroad.”
Kibbutz Neot Semadar Secretariat added, “Over the past decade, Neot Semadar has undergone a true transformation in the field of tourism. Today we share our unique culture, cuisine, and architecture with visitors from Israel and around the world. This international recognition will serve as a springboard for further tourism development in the Arava and across Israel.”
Global Recognition for the Arava and Israel
Neot Semadar’s selection in this prestigious competition reflects its compliance with UN Tourism’s high standards and positions it as an international model for eco-tourism and sustainable desert living. Even during a challenging period for Israel in international arenas, the UN chose to shine a light on Neot Semadar – placing Israel and the Southern Arava on the world tourism map and proving how a small community can inspire global recognition and open the door to a new era of sustainable tourism in Israel.