According to a group of experts from National Geographic’s Traveler magazine, the Faroe Islands, one of Iceland’s closest neighbors, rank highest as the best tourist destination of 111 islands worldwide. Iceland ranks number nine.

The 522 experts gave each of the 111 island destinations points from 0 to 100. The Faroe Islands received 87 points on average and Iceland 80. The Azores placed second with 84 points and Norway’s Lofoten third with 82 points, Morgunbladid reports.

At the other end of the scale, Spain’s Ibiza ranked 110 and Phuket in Thailand number 106.

The Faroes was the only destination to score in the second highest point category, 86 to 95 points, which assumes that the island(s) in question are “genuine and untouched and likely to stay that way.” In the next category, where Iceland qualified, “minor difficulties,” were taken into account.

Traveler said that Iceland was a country of natural extremes, fire and ice, storms, light and darkness. The article stated that the country’s culture has a long history and inhabitants are conscious about their environment. However, the establishment of large aluminum smelters has split the nation in two.

Iceland offers diverse tourism opportunities and manages to benefit from the tourism industry without damaging the environment.

According to the magazine, the Faroe Islands is an excellent tourist destination with a blooming culture where every new building is based on architectural traditions.

Transferring tourists between the islands may, however, cause problems and sailing around the islands can be dangerous, but local authorities are aware of these problems and are seeking solutions to them.