Lonely Planet’s much-awaited list “Best in Travel” for 2021 was announced a few days ago, spotlighting not only places, as is the norm, but also people and communities that are re-shaping the travel industry, which has been rocked by the pandemic.

“As our world came to a full stop this year, we looked in the mirror to reflect on how we can best empower our readers to travel responsibly and become agents of positive change,” said President and CEO of Lonely Planet Luis Cabrera. “We decided to make this year’s Best in Travel different by recognizing places and people demonstrating a genuine commitment to sustainability, community and diversity.”

Among the winners in the sustainability category, we were happy to find Greece. The country “may not be known worldwide for implementing formal initiatives surrounding sustainable practices,” as Lonely Planet author Kate Armstrong notes in her article explaining why Greece was chosen in the category, “but informally, Greeks have been green for centuries.”

Greece was in fact highlighted as a “sustainable food destination” given the fact that its people are used to eating seasonally and, especially in the countryside, are still “growing vegetables, harvesting olives and preparing silky oil, and cooking up a storm with tomatoes, fresh fish and wild greens…”

Armstrong also made special mention of Greek hospitality (philoxenia) saying that “it’s a way of life for the Greeks. It’s embedded in their DNA, and throughout the country, generous and passionate locals share their knowledge with travelers, coupling fantastic fresh cooking with back-to-nature activities such as trekking through diverse landscapes.”

Read more about the win and the Greek businesses highlighted in Armstrong’s article here.