TIES Mission & Vision

Uniting communities, conservation and sustainable travel, TIES promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

Our Mission:

TIES promotes 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.

Our Vision:

As the world’s oldest and largest international ecotourism association, TIES seeks to be the global source of knowledge and advocacy uniting communities, conservation, and sustainable travel.

About TIES

Founded in 1990, TIES is the largest and oldest ecotourism organization in the world dedicated to promoting ecotourism. As a non-profit, non-governmental and multi-stakeholder association, TIES is unique in its efforts to provide guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications to foster sound ecotourism development.

TIES’ global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, poverty alleviation, protection of culture and bio-diversity, sustainable development and educational, as well as enjoyable, travel.

Through membership services, outreach, training and education and events, TIES is committed helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice responsible tourism that benefits communities and conservation. As an educational NGO, TIES is a leading environmental organization generating and disseminating information about ecotourism.

TIES currently has members in over 90 countries, representing various fields including academics, consultants, conservation professionals and organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and managers, general development experts, and ecotourists.