Good Trip Index salutes most ethical holiday destinations – and names the worst

A new ethical holiday index has been launched to help UK tourists who want to make sure a destination is meeting its social obligations. Add-on provider Holiday Extras has released its Good Trip Index, designed to help tourists make ethical travel decisions.

The research found that one-in-10 (12 per cent) consider responsible travel the most significant factor when booking their holiday, with the human rights record of the end destination (48 per cent) and the impact of their trip on climate change (15 per cent) being the most significant elements.

It found that Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland ranked as the most responsible destinations to visit. Morocco and Egypt were among popular holiday destinations that scored the least on the index.

Canada scored highest for LGBTQI+ rights, whilst the Netherlands ranked highest for women’s rights. Some two-thirds of those polled said social considerations were important when booking a holiday location.

The analysis covers seven of the definitive country-level indices that reflect the main ethical issues when deciding on where to holiday: sustainability, human rights (women’s and LGBTIQ+), press freedom, animal welfare, and the wellbeing and quality of life in the end destination. The index ranks countries based on their scores in each category, providing an easy to digest list that holidaymakers can refer to when picking their getaway location – allowing them to have a really good trip from the moment they land on the tarmac.

Ant Clarke Cowell, associate director, brand at Holiday Extras, said: “Even though it’s worth the effort to research destinations to ensure we make responsible travel choices, it can be hard when there are so many factors to consider. A holiday shouldn’t be a chore though, so that’s why we have created this index – the first of its kind – to help holidaymakers make informed decisions about ethical destinations and trips.”

Ben Lynam, head of communications at the Travel Foundation, added: “The Good Trip Index from Holiday Extras is a great starting point for holidaymakers to consider some of the issues they might encounter abroad. Having a good trip means choosing your destination carefully, and you should expect local variations, such as between cities and rural areas.

“But this isn’t about avoiding the places that scored poorly. If you are mindful of the issues, you can still have a positive impact, for instance by avoiding certain attractions, or by supporting sustainable businesses.”

Top 20 destinations:

Bottom 10:

The full index can be viewed here.

For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.