My friend Jonathan Wills up in Shetland has drawn my attention to a survey carried out by National Geographic in which his islands come joint 3rd from 111 destinations worldwide, just below The Azores which is another of the places to which we operate. At the risk of breaching copyright, here's the quote from National Geographic about these two places:
Azores, Portugal (Score: 84)
"Not a beach destination or otherwise susceptible to mass tourism; indeed, its capricious climate probably impedes the flow of tourists. The islands' green volcanic mountains and picturesque black-and-white towns look set to remain unspoiled."
"Wonderful place. Built environment in good shape. Locals are very sophisticated as most have lived overseas."
"Remote and temperate, the Azores remain lightly touristed. Main visitor type is the independent traveler staying in B&Bs. The ecosystem—from the beautiful hydrangea-covered hills of Flores to the rock-bottomed bays of Terceira—is in great shape. Whales still a frequent sight. Local culture strong and vibrant. Not uncommon to be invited to a person's house for dinner, or welcomed into a communal meal during a festival."
Shetland Islands, Scotland (Score: 82)
"These islands have got everything 'with bells on': spectacular sea cliffs; pristine beaches; fascinating geology; over a million breeding seabirds; the highest density of otters in Europe; regular sightings of killer whales; and superb displays of rare sub-Arctic flora."
"A unique blend of Scotland and Nordic culture. Somewhat remote, the Shetlands have protected the environment and continue to attract tourists and maintain other sectors (fishing and oil) in harmony."
"Location, climate, and access keep tourism numbers down. Extremely high integrity in all aspects of heritage and ecology, despite oil developments. Great planning controls and attitude."
In case you're interested, the top place goes to the Faroes Islands - a destination we dropped for 2008 but hope to re-introduce for 2009.
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