Norway tops list of best-rated sustainable destinations

The National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations has ranked Norway's fjords region as the world's best destination in terms of stewardship and sustainable development. The rankings, which were announced last month and appear in the November/December issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, list 133 destinations around the world. The rankings were determined by a panels of 437 experts from fields such as historic preservation, site management, geography, sustainable tourism, ecology, indigenous cultures, travel writing and photography, and archaeology.

The destinations were evaluated based on six weighted 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.

Norway's fjords received a score of 85 points, ahead of other top destinations Kootenay/Yoho National Parks in British Columbia (81 points); Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula (80 points); New Zealand's South Island (80 points); and ancient Kyoto, Japan (79 points). Also on the list of places doing well was central Copenhagen, Denmark, with 72 points.

Explaining the fjord region's top ranking, the National Geographic Traveler article states:

The Fjords, which topped the charts in our 2004 rankings, get even higher marks this year. "about as good as can be done," says one panelist. the gorgeous scenery and the "well-preserved Norwegian rural life" are vigorously protected, plus "the local people seem to benefit." Should keep a wary eye on the growing cruise business.

 Read more about the survey here 

Photo by Terje Rakke/Nordic life/Innovation Norway