Panelists exchanged comments, which were kept anonymous to maintain survey neutrality, during the rating process. These excerpts offer a glimpse of panelists' varied points of view and the reasoning behind each score. They are not the views of the National Geographic Society.
Angkor, Cambodia
Score: 52
"Temple complex is straining under sheer weight of numbers but managing okay under the circumstances. Could do more to advise tourists of appropriate behavior. Little evidence of Siem Reap residents benefiting significantly from tourism—large-scale new hotels with self-contained, tourist-bubble feel."
"The historic/archeological structure and the aesthetic appeal are wonderful, but the condition of the old buildings is still poor and the tourism management side is disastrous due to its socio-cultural disintegration and bad quality of life for poor locals."
Great Wall, China
Score: 59
"Overvisited and not enough interpretation."
"Partially preserved in several scenic spots with aid of tourism income and government, yet still some problems with preservation as a whole."
"No good conservation plan is in effect. Absolutely essential if visitors can benefit from this incredible engineering feat."
"Extraordinary heritage but in bad repair in many places."
Rajasthan, India
Score: 56
"Authentic but no idea of sustainability or social integrity."
"Old Jaisalmere is absolutely stunning and still retains an incredible, authentic medieval atmosphere. Some concerns with the production line for camel-trekking."
"Changing very fast."
Bali, Indonesia
Score: 58
"It's easy to get away from the tourist traps. Find a place in a small village and wait. The culture comes alive around you."
"Bali is small but extremely complex and its culture surprisingly resilient to tourism. Environmentally there are major concerns, especially regarding resort golf courses."
"A dichotomy between the coast, sold to tourism, and the inside of the island, with wonderful landscapes, villages, people, and cultural way of life. But there, also, tourism begins to affect it."
Borobudur, Indonesia
Score: 61
"With all cultural sites, the main problem is related to human activities around it and its conservation."
"Serious problems with planning for greater commercialization near the temple."
"Must sustain villagers. World Heritage Sites too often focused on built environment and not on living culture around it."
Kyoto Historic District, Japan
Score: 74
"A great deal of effort goes into preserving the most valuable historic sites, but everything around it is ugly and tasteless."
"Well preserved and managed destination though expensive."
"Wonderful temple area, beautiful gardens, well preserved, well kept. An example of sustainable tourism. The only fear is the problem of modern urbanization and the height of new buildings."
Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
Score: 56
"Real problems over local community engagement."
"Good attempts in sustainability but needs more work."
"The fabric of society is rapidly eroding."
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Score: 51
"What was once 'clean and green' is increasingly overcrowded and polluted from too many vehicles and overuse of Doi Suthep National Park."
"The ever-stricter standards for obtaining Thai guide licenses is having a positive effect both on the quality of information available for tourists, and on the appreciation amongst guides of their responsibilities toward the local natural and cultural environment. There are still big problems with hill tribe trekking."
"Tremendous infrastructure development, lost traditional charm as result. Warm Thai hospitality."
Phuket Area, Thailand
Score: 43
"Real hard sell. Tourist boats often deliver pollution to local fishing grounds, and scantily dressed tourists to 'off-the-beaten-track' Muslim communities."
"With the current tourism climate of 'sell first—value later,' things aren't going to get any better."
"You'd think the Thais would have learned from the Pattaya experience. Almost inevitably will degrade and decline unless current planning/management changes."
Hue, Vietnam
Score: 53
"Currently battling the major highway project that could go straight through the old town. Otherwise officials and the community appear to be working hard to maintain authenticity."
"Attractions (heritage sites) in very poor condition; urban setting of low quality."