National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations comes out with the results of its sixth annual “Destinations Rated” compilation. The scoring was done by an ‘independent panel of 437 experts in fields from historic preservation and sustainable tourism to travel writing and archaeology to assess 133 iconic places around the world.’
The scoring was based on the following six criteria: environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management, and outlook for the future.
First Place in the Best Destination category was received by the Fjord Region of Norway where the Norwegian rural life is still well-preserved. As one panelist put it, “The short tourist season, rugged terrain, limited population, and inherent sensitivity of the locals to the environment bode well for the fjord region.”
Second Place goes to Kootenay and Yoho Parks in British Columbia, Canada. The sites are described to be unspoiled and ‘essentially wilderness.’ Many of the expert panelists commended the ‘low levels of development in the parks and on their thoughtful management.’
Third Place is a tie between the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada and the South Island of New Zealand. Ancient Kyoto in Japan grabbed the Fourth Place recognition, while the Fifth Place is a four-way tie among the Kakadu National Park in Australia, Medieval Granada and the Alhambra in Spain, Slovenia, and Vermont.
Occupying a low 42nd Place among the destinations rated is St. Maarten/St.Martin which is described as ‘a typical mass-market tourism disaster.’ 43rd Place goes to Cabo San Lucas Region in Mexico. 44th Place is the Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. 45th Place is Bethlehem in the West Bank. Costa del Sol in Spain grabbed the 46th Place.
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