As the largest business sector in the world economy, the 'Travel & Tourism' industry is responsible for over 230 million jobs and over 10% of the gross domestic product worldwide. Tourism is a principle "export" (foreign exchange earner) for 83% of developing countries, and the leading export for 1/3 of poorest countries. For the world's 40 poorest countries, tourism is the second most important source of foreign exchange, after oil.
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles: Minimize impact.
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
The International Ecotourism Society promotes ecotourism, which is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people," by: - Creating an international network of individuals, institutions and the tourism industry;
- Educating tourists and tourism professionals; and
- Influencing the tourism industry, public institutions and donors to integrate the principles of ecotourism into their operations and policies.
Some of the projects untaken by TIES include:
Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in El Salvador (2008)
The aim of this collaborative project by TIES and FUNDEMAS (the Business Foundation for Social Action) in El Salvador was to establish a national strategy for the sustainable development of tourism through effective partnerships among various stakeholder groups and decision makers. Lebanon Mountain Trail: Community Based Ecotourism (2007)
This very creative project worked to develop the 300 km Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT), knitting together beautiful landscapes and a string of mountain villages in an effort to promote ecotourism, conservation, cultural understanding, sustainable livelihoods, and peace. University of Central Asia Professional Training Course (2006)
TIES, in collaboration with Fachhochschule Eberswalde in Germany, developed a professional training course specifically for local tour operators in the mountain areas of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, with the aim of fostering sound ecotourism development and operation in Central Asia. Ecotourism: A Tool for Development in Ukraine (2005)
TIES, in partnership with the US-Ukraine Foundation, worked on this project to raise awareness of ecotourism and sustainable development in Ukraine. In recent years, many Ukrainians have seen an opportunity to increase international tourism using Ukraine's natural and cultural richness. Sustainable Tourism in Northern and Central Montenegro (2005)
TIES undertook a consultancy for Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the UNDP to further assess the potentials for sustainable tourism development in the central and northern regions of Montenegro. Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, Northwest Mexico (2005)
This project aimed at helping local NGOs in the Baja California area of Mexico develop a sustainable tourism master plan for the peninsula and to effectively monitor tourism developments by the private sector and the Mexican government. Sustainable Tourism Certification, Cat Ba Island, Vietnam (2004)
Through the Vietnam Coastal Biodiversity Support program, led by Flora and Fauna International (FFI), TIES developed monitoring and local certification programs as well as user guides and technical assistance manuals for the region.
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