NEW YORK — Two of the top three places in National Geographic Traveler's annual "destination stewardship" survey are Canadian: B.C.'s Kootenay/Yoho national parks, ranked No. 2, and Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula, in third place.
They trail only Norway's fiords region, ranked No. 1.
Experts were asked to rank 133 destinations around the world based on factors including pollution, cultural authenticity, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management and outlook for the future.
The rest of the top 10, in order: New Zealand's South Island; ancient Kyoto, Japan; Vermont, U.S.; Slovenia; Kakadu National Park, Australia; medieval Granada and the Alhambra in Spain; and the Bavarian Alps in Germany.
The lowest-rated places were Egypt's northern Red Sea coast; the Dominican Republic's north coast; St. Maarten/St. Martin; Mexico's Cabo San Lucas region; Grand Bahama, Bahamas; the West Bank town of Bethlehem in Israel/Palestine; and, in last place, Spain's Costa del Sol (or as the magazine describes it, the "infamous, hotel-lined 'Costa del Concrete' ").
Several of the lowest ranked places were rated worse than in past surveys because of "reckless development and commercialization," the magazine says.
"If there is a blessing to the global economic downturn, it is the respite from such rampant, quick-buck degradation of Earth's remaining beautiful places," says the magazine's geotourism editor Jonathan B. Tourtellot.
The survey praised the BC National parks:
British Columbia: Kootenay/Yoho National Parks
On the western slope of the Canadian Rockies adjoining Banff, these two national parks are "essentially wilderness" with a "good, marked trail system" and outstanding "visitor management." "An awe-inspiring destination in summer."
Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:
"These parks have not dramatically changed in many years, and have generally maintained their environmental and socio-cultural integrity, and aesthetic appeal. While there are some challenging ecological issues (such as pine-beetle and fire management), Parks Canada seems to have things well under control."
"Essentially wilderness parks, although the main Trans-Canada Highway bisects Yoho. Very seasonal use, with mainly camping in parks. Gateway communities are away from park boundaries, and their development is less controlled (Revelstoke and Golden). Apart from a couple of small lodges, there is no significant development in either park."
"Low level of development and visitation make these parks relatively unspoiled."
