Authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so.

Faroe Islands top rating in National Geographic survey.

National Geographic has carried out a survey of islands in which a panel of 522 well-traveled experts in sustainable tourism were asked to rank 111 different islands by comparing e.g. environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity as well as outlook for the future. The survey rates the qualities that make a destination unique, i.e. "integrity of place"  - and they gave the Faroe Islands the highest ranking!

Islands symbolize vacation. Escape! Their very insularity makes them attractive. They are worlds unto themselves—their own traditions, ecosystems, cultures, and landscapes. That's what attracts us. But as micro-worlds, islands – the world’s most appealing destinations - are the ones most prone to tourism overkill.

Elin Heinesen, Director of SamVit – Faroe Islands Enterprise, is very pleased with the result of the survey and says that it gives us great opportunities to promote the Faroe Islands as a fantastic tourist destination. Says Ms Heinesen ”our challenge now is to ensure that the tourist industry is further developed with due regard to our unique environment and our integrity, as these are the qualities that the majority of tourist travelling to the Faroe Islands value the most.

This is what some of the experts said about us:

"Superb glaciated landscape with improbably steep slopes. Little flat land. Local society unified and resolutely Faroese, not Danish, with own language, etc. Built heritage, down to the grass roofs, reasonably protected, certainly cherished. Most tourists adventurous and well-informed."

"Cultural integrity strong. On Koltur, visitors can meet a farmer, tour the island, experience a living museum of farm life today, and sample local traditional cuisine. The farmer is part of a green certification program. If the numbers of cruise ships continue to grow rapidly, there may be problems with island carrying capacity."

"All new buildings are required to maintain historic architecture."

"Quite rightly, tourists are expected to be like the Faroese, such as taking choppy ferries and hiking through any weather. The future could bring severe social and environmental impacts, but the Faroese are aware of the dangers and are debating solutions."

To read more about the survey please see: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/islandsrated0711/islands.html