WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twenty-five years after its founding, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is still going strong with more than 14,700 members. Earlier this year its annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) in Ecuador drew more than 500 attendees from 46 countries. An ESTC is already being planned for April 25 to 28 in Botswana and for the first time ever there will be an ESTC America—at the University of South Florida in Tampa from January 25 to 27. The Tampa event will be limited to 220 participants.
As strong as TIES has been over the years, 2015 is turning into a year of transition. Kelly Bricker, Chair of TIES since 2004, told Green Lodging News that she will be phasing her way out of the organization in the next three years as TIES rebuilds its board. Earlier this year the Advisory Committee of TIES resigned and was replaced with an Education and Research Committee. Former Advisory Committee members are now working to form a Global Ecotourism Network.
“We wish the Global Ecotourism Network well,” Bricker says. “We need to focus forward, building a new board, while meeting the needs of our growing membership.”
Significant Social Media Activity
Proof of interest in TIES is its Facebook page which has more than 60,000 “Likes”.
“In social media the activity has grown immensely,” Bricker says. “We do see a renewed interest in ecotourism and nature tourism, and the importance they play in society.” Recent posts addressed topics such as overcrowding at the world’s most popular tourism sites and a new report on tourism development and biodiversity.
TIES offers a professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Management, which is awarded jointly by TIES and George Washington University. Bricker says TIES has updated that program and is broadening its international scope. TIES also offers a University Consortium Certificate (UCC) in Sustainable and Eco Tourism for university students currently enrolled in a university degree granting institution. Previously offered only in the United States and Canada, UCC is now expanding into Ecuador.
TIES maintains a strong relationship with the Journal of Ecotourism; a special issue will be published soon that includes presentations made at the Ecuador conference. Also coming soon is a redesign of the TIES website.
Ecotourism Definition Updated
In early January of this year, TIES announced that it had revised its Definition and Principles, created by the founding members in 1990. The revised definition of ecotourism: “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education.”
According to TIES, those who implement, participate in, and market ecotourism activities should adopt the following ecotourism principles:
• Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness, and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Produce direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.
• Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climates.
• Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.
• Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous People in your community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.
To learn more about TIES, click here.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
