Dominican Republic: North Coast
Score: 41

A land of all-inclusive resorts where visitors hardly glimpse the real life of the place. "The quantity of tourism arriving is a very big problem," notes a panelist. One consequence: "Locals are marginalized and desperate, and the experience is exploitive."

Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:

"Virtually destroyed by all-inclusive, European-run resorts. Locals are marginalized and desperate, and the experience is either restrictive or exploitative"

"Study in extreme contrasts. There are the slums and there are the high-dollar resorts—with not much else in between. Outside the resorts, the people all seem to be struggling...with poverty, overcrowding, lack of adequate transportation, etc. Inside the resorts, everything is taken care of for the tourists. As a country, the outlook on sustainability is grim. The pollution is awful, with trash along the highways and waterfronts, and vehicles sputtering nasty smoke."

"Environmental and ecological quality threatened by lack of sanitation and solid-waste-disposal systems outside Puerto Plata. Natural lagoons in Cabarete threatened by new hotel and second-residential development. Reef protection off the coast in Montecristi extremely limited. Haitian illegal immigration is displacing Dominicans in hotel construction jobs and placing extreme pressure on local municipalities for the provision of adequate housing and basic services. Crime, drugs, and prostitution have increased in Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete. Youth unemployment is double the national unemployment rate. Condition of built heritage is also under stress. Puerto Plata's Victorian homes are in complete disarray."