A California based environmentalist group, Ethical Traveler, included Tonga in its annual list of ‘The World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations’.

The list, which was published last month by the Earth Island Institute ranks countries according to national progress in Environmental Protection, Social Welfare and Human Rights. The results were concluded by a survey evaluating the progress of countries across the world. The 10 winners were Tonga, Capo Verde, Dominica, Grenada, Micronesia, Mongolia, Panama, Samoa, Tuvalu and Uruguay. 

The Ethical Travelers review stated that it scored Tonga the highest in environmental protection; citing the recent installation of solar renewable energy plants, the increase of national marine reserves and advocacy for grater action on climate change. The list also credited Tonga for a high literacy rate (99%), well above the global average of 84%.

It wasn’t all praise however, the Ethical Travellers list criticized Tonga for being only one of seven nations in the world that have not ratified the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Ethical Traveler stated “This stance underscores troubling cultural beliefs regarding the status of women in society, and we ask them to make significant improvements in the coming year. “