Travel and tourism are among the world's leading economic forces and each journey we take makes a statement about our priorities and commitment to change.

Every year, Ethical Traveler reviews the policies and practices of all nations in the developing world and selects the 10 that are doing the best job of promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and creating a sustainable, community-based tourism industry.

It's always an honor to compile this list, co-author and Ethical Traveler executive director Jeff Greenwald said. It gives us great pleasure to express our admiration for these countries, and we hope they'll reap real economic and social benefits as a result of our endorsement.

A project of the Earth Island Institute founded to empower travelers to change the world, Ethical Traveler uses the economic clout of tourism to protect human rights and the environment. Their annual list is created in part to encourage travelers to support countries that are making a positive change.

The steady trend we're seeing toward green practices and support for sustainable tourism -- by governments and travelers alike -- is a fantastic development and shows a real coming of age in the international tourism community, Greenwald said.

Many of the destinations on the 2012 list are carryovers from last year's annual report with island nations and South American countries continuing to dominate.

Ethical Traveler studies developing nations from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe to identify the best tourism destinations among them, all while keying in on environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights.

None of these countries are perfect, researcher Natalie Lefevre noted. But the countries that are on this list deserve their spots thanks to their effort to ensure that tourism has a positive impact on their country and their people.

Press Start to view the top 10 ethical destinations in the developing world.

Argentina
Argentina received a rating of “very high human development” on the 2011 Human Development Report, compiled by the UN Development Program. The South American powerhouse will also host the Argentina y Ambiente 2012 – an international congress aimed at addressing some of the world’s most challenging environmental issues. REUTERS
The Bahamas
In 2011, the Bahamas banned shark fishing, protecting one of the most rich and diverse shark populations in the world. The Bahamas were also the highest ranked Ethical Destination country on the 2011 Human Development Report. creative commons
Chile
A regular on the Ethical Destinations list, Chile scored well with its environmental protection, particularly in sustainable fishery and forestry. Chile also scored high on the 2011 Human Development Report. REUTERS
Costa Rica
Costa Rica scored incredibly high in the Environmental Policy Index (EPI). In fact, it was one of the top three nations in the world in that category. Costa Rica also adopted a groundbreaking gender equality policy last year, allowing women more social protection, economic autonomy and political participation. REUTERS
Dominica
Dominica is working on an impressive renewable energy policy with plans to be carbon-negative by 2020. The small Caribbean commonwealth also signed a UN statement defending LGBT rights in 2011 – the only Eastern Caribbean country to do so. mark-map.com
Latvia
The European Commission awarded five sites throughout Latvia the EDEN Award for sustainable tourism. Latvia also scored high on social welfare, and Freedom House noted high levels of academic freedom and freedom of assembly. REUTERS
Mauritius
In September, the World Health Organization reported that Mauritius has the second best air quality in the world. Mauritius also received the highest scores on the 2011 Human Development Report for the region. REUTERS
Palau
Because of Palau’s enthusiasm for conservation efforts, it was chosen as a pilot for The Nature Conservancy’s Transforming Coral Reef Conservation program. The nation is also of note because education is free and mandatory through grade 12, with support services available for those who do not graduate. REUTERS
Serbia
Serbia is developing five new hydropower plants, signed a historic declaration to establish a trans-boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to protect nature and wildlife along the Mura, Drava, and Danube rivers, and signed the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management – protecting Europe’s largest areas of old growth forest outside of Russia. Serbia also scored high on social welfare, particularly on child mortality rates. Furthermore, Serbia arrested two notorious war criminals this year – Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic - a commendable development in human rights. REUTERS
Uruguay
Uruguay made notable strides in the areas of infant mortality, malnutrition and vaccination in children under five. This South American nation offers its citizens excellent water quality and forestry protection. It also announced that it will invest $150 million to re-settle thousands of people currently living in Montevideo’s hazardous shanty towns. REUTERS
Afghanistan Human rights Zimbabwe Afghanistan