Our Story

  • 2016

    First annual ESTCNA held in Tampa Bay, Florida in partnership with the Patel College of Global Sustainability

  • 2015

    • Largest ever held in Quito, Ecuador with the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador
    • TIES turns 25 years old!
    • Revision of ecotourism Definition and Principles
    • Awards the Kelly Bricker Award to Simon Omalenge

  • 2014

    • Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference held in Bonito, Brazil
    • Participates at “Beyond 2015: An Action Agenda by Non-governmental organizations” at the United Nations to include tourism as a significant contributor to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
    • Launch of the Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Management in partnership with George Washington University

  • 2013

    • First international Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya
    • Awards Megan Epler-Wood “TIES Lifetime Achievement Award”
    • Launch of the Ecotourism Master Class Series
    • Publication of the Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals
    • Launch of the University Consortium Certificate

  • 2012

  • 2011

    • Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) held in Hilton Head Island, SC, USA, in partnerships with Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Convention Bureau.
    • Organizes ESTC11 pre-conference workshops, including “Sustainable Tourism: Doing Good as a Market Driver”, a half-day workshop on destination marketing and management strategies.
    • Organizes a workshop on sustainable tourism business management in Grand Bahama, in partnerships with US Fish & Wildlife Service and Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds.
    • Organizes a workshop on ecotourism product development and destination marketing in South Korea, in partnership with Ecotourism Korea; Republic of Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
    • Launches the International Voluntourism Guidelines Project, in partnership with Planeterra.

  • 2010

    • TIES turns 20 years old!
    • Publishes “Ecotourism Then and Now” by TIES founder Megan EplerWood
    • Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) held in Portland, Oregon, USA, in partnerships with Travel Portland and Travel Oregon.
    • Presents the Innovation Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Award at the ESTC10.
    • Co-organizes the first European Ecotourism Conference (EuroEco), held in Parnu, Estonia.
    • Becomes a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

  • 2009

    • Launches the ecoDestinations program, with the goal of connecting travelers with inspiring ecotourism initiatives in various destinations around the world.
    • Launches Your Travel Choice Blog (YourTravelChoice.org), TIES new interactive communication platform to engage, educate and inspire.
    • Announces partnership with Planeterra Foundation, TIES Voluntourism Partner.
    • Publishes the first edition of the Travel Green Guide, TIES new annual e-publication serving as a resource guide to responsible travel options.
    • Announces conference partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

  • 2008

    • Organizes, in partnership with local NGOs, “Washington DC Eco-Tour”, highlighting eco-friendly initiatives and educational opportunities in the greater Washington community.
    • Hosts a public forum “Indigenous Business Leaders in Ecotourism” in partnership with the Swedish Ecotourism Society.
    • Announces the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) as TIES’ annual conference focusing on greening the tourism industry.
    • Organizes the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008 (ESTC08) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
    • Announces the first Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • 2007

    • Organizes the Global Ecotourism Conference 2007 (Oslo, Norway), the first global gathering of ecotourism professionals after the IYE.
    • Organizess the North American Ecotourism Conference 2007 (Madison, Wisconsin), the first bi-national conference focused on ecotourism in North America.

  • 2006

    Launches the Advocacy Campaign “Traveling with Climate in Mind”

  • 2005

    • Supports relief efforts and advocates for sustainable tourism in Indian Ocean countries devastated by tsunami.
    • Marks 15th anniversary with second “Celebration of Ecotourism” in Washington, DC.
    • Sponsors first conference on “Ecotourism in the U.S.” in Bar Harbor, Maine, together with local Chamber of Commerce.

  • 2004

    • Co-hosts the Traveler’s Philanthropy conference at Stanford University in California, USA.
    • Holds first Annual General Meeting open to all members in Washington, DC.
    • Begins multi-year research on tourism certification as part of Rainforest Alliance-led project focusing on five Latin American countries.

  • 2003

    • Participates in World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec City, Canada, organizing NGOs and indigenous groups, and offering training workshops.
    • Publishes International Ecolodge Guidelines.
    • Conducts study on social and environmental footprint of nature-based lodges around the world.
    • Launches distance learning courses and Sustainable Tourism Certification with the George Washington University.

  • 2002

    Holds additional IYE regional meetings in India, Peru, Thailand, Kenya and Sweden.

  • 2001

    • With the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), holds IYEregional meetings in Belize and the Seychelles.
    • Launches new online magazine, Ecotourism Observer. and publishes Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability.
    • Joins Rainforest Alliance’s initiative to assess feasibility of creating accreditation system for sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification.

  • 2000

    • Kicks off first consumer education campaign, “Your Travel Choice Can Make a Difference.”
    • Attends “Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Certification Workshop” at Mohonk Mountain House, New York and signs seminal “MohonkAgreement.”
    • Publishes The Business of Ecolodges, based on international survey of financial data from ecolodges.
    • Changes name to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in preparation for International Year of Ecotourism (IYE); moves its office from North Bennington to Burlington, Vermont.

  • 1999

    • Publishes Marine Ecotourism Guidelines.
    • Holds ecotourism training workshop at the World Ecotourism Conference in Sabah, Malaysia.
    • Works with the Programme for Belize to analyze revenue generating strategies for conserving coral reefs.
    • Produces Cultural Survival Quarterly issue entitled “Protecting Indigenous Culture and Land through Ecotourism.”

  • 1998

    • Holds regional workshop, “Planning and Developing an Ecotourism Destination,” in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
    • Co-hosts ecotourism training workshop for tour operators in Tahiti.
    • Conducts “Marine Ecotourism Stakeholder” meetings in the Caribbean and Mexico.

  • 1997

    • Co-hosts first regional forum, “Ecotourism and Community Participation,” in Quito, Ecuador.
    • Together with Kenya Wildlife Service and Ecotourism Society of Kenya, sponsors regional conference, “Ecotourism at the Crossroads: Charting the Way Forward,” in Nairobi, Kenya.

  • 1996

    • Holds first “Marine Ecotourism Workshop” in Hawaii.
    • Co-publishes Tourism, Ecotourism and Protected Areas, with the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

  • 1995

    • Launches Ecotourism News Service and Ecotourism Society Research Service; issues first fact sheets and information packets.
    • Publishes The Ecolodge Sourcebook for Planners and Developers.
    • Holds forum in Costa Rica with participants from over 30 countries to define international ecolodge standards.

  • 1994

    • Sponsors first “International Ecolodge Forum and Field Seminar on Ecolodge Design” at Maho Bay Camps, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    • Holds the first “International Ecotourism Partners” meeting in Virgin Islands to foster national and regional ecotourism associations.

  • 1993

    • Publishes its first book, Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Manager and popular pamphlet Ecotourism Guidelines for Nature Tour Operators.
    • Working with member tour operators, helps win higher park entrance fees for foreign visitors to Costa Rica’s National Parks.

  • 1992

    • Advocates for sound ecotourism practices at World Parks and Protected Areas Congress in Caracas, Venezuela and First World Congress on Tourism and the Environment in Belize.
    • Produces first set of comprehensive guidelines for ecotourism operators based on international surveys and focus groups.

  • 1991

    • Board establishes TIES mission and the definition of ecotourism.
    • Works with Charles Darwin Foundation to find solutions to uncontrolled tourism growth in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
    • Offers “Ecotourism Management Seminar” with the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

  • 1990

    • TIES launched by a team organized by Megan Epler Wood at a conference in Florida in 1989 as the world’s first international non-profit dedicated to ecotourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development.
    • Epler Wood recruits the first board of directors and Chairman, David Western in 1990. Western and Epler Wood raise the first grants for the Society.

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