National Geographic Traveler, in conjunction with National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, has devoted its sixth annual “Places Rated” Destination Stewardship survey to the world’s most celebrated and iconic travel destinations and how they have weathered mass tourism and other threats.
The survey, conducted by the Center, is the cover story of the November-December 2009 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine on newsstands November 3, 2009. A total of 133 destinations were surveyed by a panel of 437 experts in a variety of fields related to sustainable tourism.
Norway’s Fjords region takes top honors (85 points) with judges noting its scenery and well-preserved rural life. Other destinations in the “Best Rated Places” category include Japan’s ancient Kyoto (#4, 79 points) for honoring the “serenity and charm of ancient Japan” and Slovenia tied at #5 (78 points) for being among the most sustainable and authentic places to visit in Europe.
