Lonely Planet names 2021's most eco-friendly destinations

Each year Lonely Planet produces a much-anticipated bucket list ranking of the top spots to travel to in the following year, called Best in Travel. 'This slow-travel option has reduced its Co2 emissions by 18 tonnes per year, increased onboard recycling and introduced initiatives to protect of local wildlife,' says Lonely Planet Best Food Destination – Greece. Lonely Planet says: 'Organic produce markets and island seafood makes it an unintentional leader of the world’s most sustainable food' Best islands - Palau, Pacific Ocean. Describing Invisible Cities' snaring of the Best Tour award, Lonely Planet says: ' an exciting social enterprise that offers people affected by homelessness the opportunity to become a tour guide in their own city.' 'Rural villagers are trained in hospitality to provide homestays while acquiring fresh economic opportunities for the local community,' points out Lonely Planet Best Accommodation in the Sustainability category is Grootberg Lodge in Etendeka Plateau, Namibia - 'a luxurious low-impact lodge helping to preserve lion and black rhino populations through community empowerment' LONELY PLANET'S BEST IN TRAVEL WINNERS 2021 BEST IN SUSTAINABILITY Best City Stay - Gothenburg, Sweden Best islands - Palau, Pacific Ocean Best Accommodation - Grootberg Lodge in Etendeka Plateau, Namibia Best Cycling - Virginia Mountain Bike Trail Best Food Destination – Greece Best Train Journey - Rocky Mountaineer Best Emerging Destination - Antigua & Barbuda Best Conservation Programme – Rwanda Best Walks - Le Vie di Dante, Italy Best Storyteller - Soraya Abdel-Hadi BEST IN COMMUNITY Best Tour - Invisible Cities Best Restoration – Australia Best Tourism Project - The Burren Eco Tourism Network, Co Clare Best Accommodation – Kazakhstan Best Immersion - Faroe Islands Best Revitalisation - Medellin, Colombia Best Trekking - Tesfa Tours, Ethiopia Best Storyteller – Hesham Moadamani Best Small Business - Footprint Café, Siem Reap Cambodia Best Expat Storyteller - Georgette Jupe, Girl in Florence BEST IN DIVERSITY Best Under-Explored History - Gullah Islands, USA Best Cultural Diversity - San Diego, California Best Welcoming Destination - Amman, Jordan Best Emerging Voice - Gabby Beckford Best Accessible Destination - Costa Rica Best Multi-generational destination - El Hierro, Canary Islands Best Indigenous food – Hiakai restaurant, Wellington, New Zealand Best Inclusive Storyteller - Jeff Jenkins Best Inclusive Tours - Wheel the World, California Best LGBTQ+ Storytellers - Amsterdam-based bloggers A Couple of Men Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison says: 'There is no doubt that this has been the most challenging year our industry has faced, having to first deal with the impacts of last summer's bushfires followed directly by a shutdown of travel due to Covid-19.