Each year, California-based nonprofit Ethical Traveler researches and publishes a list of the 10 most ethical destinations in the developing world.
Each country is reviewed for its performance in the areas of human rights, social welfare, animal welfare and protection of the environment. That’s not all; a winning country also must have plenty of appeal as a travel destination.
The 2015 winners, in alphabetical order (NOT in order of merit) are:
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Dominica
- Lithuania
- Mauritius
- Palau
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
NEW for 2015:
Tonga is taking bold steps to reduce diesel importation, substituting solar home energy instead. Tonga's new development plan attempts to balance environmental and economic concerns. In 2015, Ha'aapai will become Tonga's first island dedicated to organic farming. The new government has also improved in terms of social welfare & human rights.
Vanuatu has made great progress in recent years in terms of indigenous rights, democratic reforms and protecting victims of domestic violence. It also has been named the "Happiest Country in the World" by the Happy Planet Index.
For more information, please visit http://www.ethicaltraveler.org
