Samoa gets top 10 vote

19 January 2016, 12:00AM

For the second year in a row and for the third year since 2013, Samoa has featured in the Ethical Traveler’s Top Ten List.

Ethical Traveler is a non-profit organisation and a project of the Earth Island Institute which surveys the world’s developing nations and assesses their performance in the areas of Social Welfare, Human Rights and Environmental Protection. 

Each year, Ethical Traveler releases a list of countries that excel in these areas in a bid to encourage travelers to visit destinations that contribute to a safer and more sustainable world. 

Ethical Traveler utilizes information provided by sources such as Freedom House, The Millennium Challenge Corporation, Reporters without Borders, UNICEF, the World Bank, Amnesty International and various LGBT sources.

In order to make this list, each country must also offer unspoiled natural beauty, great outdoor activities and the opportunity to interact with local people and cultures in a meaningful, mutually enriching way. Needless to say, Samoa fit the bill in every category.

Samoa received a perfect score from Freedom House in the areas of Social Welfare and Human Rights. Samoa issued a State of Human Rights report in 2015, the first of its kind in the country, which aims to increase measures already put in place to further protect women, children, people with disabilities and prisoners.

In another step to preserve and protect its natural resources and beauty, Samoa scored high in the Environmental Protection category with the country launching new solar plants in 2015, on its way to meeting its objective of plans to providing 100% sustainable energy by 2017.

“Climate change affects our islands dramatically and we feel the effects of that first, so we have an important role to play in educating the world on this front and to continue to lead by example, especially in sustainable tourism development,” says Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Minister of Tourism. 

“We have a unique culture found nowhere else in the world, the foundation of which is based on respect – for each other, for visitors and of course our surroundings. Visit Samoa and see for yourselves why it is so important for us to protect and preserve what we have – our culture, our people and our surroundings - to live as one with nature, sustainably and with respect so that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty we are blessed with.”

2016 is Visit Samoa year. For the latest events and deals visit www.samoa.travel 

19 January 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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