Index of Destination Stewardship

National Geographic Traveler undertook a global survey of over 200 specialists in sustainable tourism and destination quality. The specialists evaluated 115 of the world's best known places based on six criteria related to cultural, environmental, and aestheticintegrity. The outcome was called a "Destination Scorecard," (PDF, 1.5MB) and, according to the magazine, seems to be convincing many cities that stewardship of natural, historic, and cultural resources can go hand-in-hand with a vibrant tourism economy.

The sustainable tourism specialists also offered details about how they ranked each of the destinations.