Analytics, Good for Business, Latvia, Lithuania, Rating, Tourism

Every year ''Ethical Traveler'' conducts a study of developing nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, to identify the world’s best travel and tourism destinations. The survey focuses on three general categories: environmental protection, social welfare and human rights - all while creating a sustainable, community-based tourism industry.

Included in the ''Top 10'' was the Bahamas, Barbados, Cape Verde, Chile, Dominica, Mauritius, Palau and Uruguay.

Both Latvia and Lithuania received top marks in environmental protection. Latvia in particular should be lauded for its status as one of only ten countries in the world highlighted for being top performers in 22 indicators spanning ten policy categories reflecting areas of both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. Lithuania and Chile showed improving environmental performance indicators and we hope to see that continue.

The scores compiled by UNICEF on child mortality rates are one indicator of social welfare. In this category, Cape Verde and Barbados scored particularly high. A country the UN designates as having ‘very high human development,’ Lithuania reached its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for under 5 mortality rate, which has dropped by an impressive 52% in Lithuania since 2000. Dominica also made noteworthy progress toward its MDGs, particularly in the areas of universal primary education, child mortality and maternal health. To gauge issues such as access to safe drinking water, sustainable water management, responsible sanitation practices, and agricultural management, we considered the 2013 Human Development Report, compiled by the UN Development Program (UNDP). 

Though we study many metrics and reports to arrive at our list, this is the first year we have considered Animal Welfare. It was a mixed prospect. While some of our winners (notably Dominica, Palau and Lithuania) scored high marks on this scale, two others, Mauritius and the Bahamas, have challenges. 

According to The World Bank’s Gini Index, Chile received the best equality ranking of this year’s Ethical Destinations countries, with Uruguay being the second highest on our list. We were pleased to see that Palau received the highest score of this year’s countries for press freedom according to Freedom House’s 2013 report. And Latvia was the highest ranked of this year’s countries according to The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2013, showing Latvia to be a leader in gender equality.

Human trafficking is an issue we monitor closely, and we were pleased to see that the Bahamas achieved results in the proactive identification and assistance of trafficking victims and launched its first prosecution under human trafficking law. Significant progress is needed, but we hope this positive step sets the tone for further efforts. Latvia too, while improving, could make greater efforts to prevent sexual trafficking.

There is an urgent need in Latvia to address institutionalized discrimination against non-Latvians living in the country. Non-citizens have restricted political and civil rights and recent legislation has proposed a revision of the constitution’s preamble that will assert the country as an “Ethnic Latvian Nation” and could push non-Latvians even further to the fringes.

''Ethical Traveler'' also pointed out to the strong eco-tourism culture in Latvia, as well as the country's unspoiled nature.