Nat Geo lists sustainable spots

National Geographic surveys sustainability of UK destinations

The National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations has released its sixth annual survey of destination stewardship.

The rating of a destination takes into account what local governments, residents and businesses can control—pollution, cultural quality and authenticity, tourism management—and what they can't, such as natural disasters and global economic meltdowns.

In order to accurately rate these destinations National Geographic contacts experts in pertinent fields and asks them to rate the places they know. They then average their scores and publish the results. Statistical experience shows that group judgment can be surprisingly accurate—the "wisdom of crowds" effect.

Here’s what they had to say about some of the UK’s top destinations (scores are marked out of a 100):

England: Yorkshire Dales

Score: 77

The Dales, much of which form a national park of valleys and villages, stand out as "an icon of sustainable tourism." Visitors are rewarded with "wonderful" farmhouse B&Bs, great hiking opportunities, and "friendly village pubs." But high housing prices are driving away young people, and limited public transportation poses problems.

Scotland: The Highlands

Score: 77

Popular with visitors since the time of Queen Victoria, the Highlands don't give "the sense that they're a tourist destination." Local people are part of the attraction and "appear to be in control of development for their benefit." Second homes and nonlocal workers in the hospitality industry have begun to threaten the authenticity.
Wales:?Score: 76

"I was gob smacked by the beauty of the Welsh countryside," says one panellist. "Extraordinary, verdant, and with 500,000 Welsh speakers," chimes in another. The only drawbacks seem to be rainy weather and environmental degradation from mining. The Welsh are among the happiest people I've met. Any pub in Wales will welcome visitors and entertain them with the local natural knack for storytelling and singing."

England: Cornwall

Score: 68

"Cornwall has become very popular with second-home owners, surfers, and domestic and international tourists in the past few years. Since the area is essentially one of unspoiled countryside and farmland with narrow roads and small settlements, it is hard to see how this trend can be maintained without severe impacts on the environment. Places like St. Ives are already struggling to cope with the volume of people and traffic, and some of the more accessible beaches and towns are overcrowded at peak times. Tourism here is highly seasonal, with a beach/coastal focus; a wider focus might be more sustainable. Transport in Cornwall is difficult; most tourists need a car to get around. This will be a big problem if numbers continue to rise."

To see how destinations from across the rest of the world are rated, click the following link:

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/destinations-rated/intro-text