Norway Tops National Geographic Destination Ratings
A year ago, when we received the “Destinations Rated” issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, I was surprised to see that the top-ranked destination in the US was Columbus, Indiana. This year, the highset-scoring destination is once again close to “home,” as the honor went to the Norwegian fjords.
The scores are calculated based on six critieria: “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.”
Aside from the typical sentiment it arouses when I remember (or in the case of Columbus, realize) that I live near a notable and award-winning international travel destination, I was very pleased to see the fjords at the top of the list. A big focus of the survey is on sustainable tourism, which explains why so many of the world’s most famous sites land in the middle and lower half of the rankings. And there has been increasing concern in Norway about the growing cruise business and its impact on the fjords.
Since Lucas and I enjoy cruising, I tend to keep a finger on the pulse of the cruise industry in our neighborhood (partly to keep an eye out for easy and affordable chances to get away from home and relax), and I’ve noticed an increase in cruise traffic to the coast. During the summer cruise season, this is definitely a concern that pops up in the Norwegian media. Norway as a whole tends to be a very environmentally proactive country, and the idea of megaships leaking fuel or puffing exhaust into their pristine natural wonderland is an understandable concern. So seeing the fjords placed at the top of NGT list was something of a relief, especially given its higher score (the ratings are revisited every few years).
Unfortunately, however, the reviewers comments were generally unsurprising, and the magazine’s summary concluded with a remark about the potential risks from the cruise industry. It seems that the fears are justified, but on the positive side, it seems that no damage has been done yet.