Five nations have been recognized by Ethical Traveler as winners of the 2016 Ethical Destinations Awards. Grenada, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Panama and Tuvalu were chosen for their efforts to conserve natural resources, uphold human rights and protect animals. This marks the first time these five countries have appeared on the annual list of Ethical Destinations.
They join five countries that were named in previous years: Cabo Verde, Dominica, Samoa, Tonga and Uruguay.
Each year, the California-based initiative researches and publishes a list of the ten most forward-thinking destinations in the developing world. Candidates are evaluated on human rights, social welfare, animal welfare and environmental protection, and must also offer genuine appeal as travel destinations. Ethical Traveler is a program of the Berkeley-based Earth Island Institute.
“While we acknowledge that no country is perfect,” says Jeff Greenwald, co-founder of Ethical Traveler and travel author, “we honor those that strive to build a better, more sustainable society. Their neighbors can learn and benefit from their example — and so can we.”