TO WIN The Economist’s country of the year award, it is not enough to be peaceful and rich. We aim to reward improvement. Previous winners include Myanmar and Tunisia, for escaping tyranny and building something resembling democracy. Switzerland, Japan and New Zealand, which were just as lovely a decade ago, need not apply.

This blanket measure will apply to services offered by travel agencies, tourist guides and accommodation agencies, when they are not part of packets or plans sold by agencies or hotels registered with the National Register of Tourism.