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Ecotourism Celebrates 20 Years
Friday, 29 Mar, 2010
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Leader of the pack organisation launched two years before seminal 1992 Rio Earth Summit – The International Ecotourism Society is now celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Formally launched two years before the seminal 1992 Earth Summit at Rio, TIES was originally conceived by a team organized by Megan Epler Wood at a conference in Florida in 1989. The organization was formally unveiled as the world’s first international non-profit dedicated to ecotourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development in 1990 when publications, guidelines, and membership programmes were produced.
In 1991 TIES opened offices in Alexandria, Virginia and North Bennington, Vermont. The new board established the TIES mission and the definition of ecotourism that is still mostly widely used around the world.
The same year TIES worked with the Charles Darwin Foundation to find solutions to uncontrolled tourism growth in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The on, TIES first "Ecotourism Management Seminar" was established with the George Washington University in Washington, DC. In this way the organization established its early credentials as an educator and a practical entity.
Said Dr Kelly Bricker “Together with our members, we have come a long way since 1990 as an active participant and leader in global efforts to utilize travel as a tool for conservation and sustainable development.”
“Yet we also realize that there is still a lot of work to do! In a time of limited resources, struggling economies and increased threats to natural environment, the tourism industry needs creative solutions to today’s sustainability challenges. Through TIES global network of individuals and organizations from over 90 countries, we continue to promote the principles of ecotourism and strengthen conservation and community development initiatives.”
“Over the years TIES has proudly partnered with national and regional ecotourism associations throughout the world, providing vital links between governments, NGOs, businesses and citizens and effectively promoting ecotourism initiatives worldwide through our ‘Network of Networks’”
A number of events are scheduled throughout the year for the TIES anniversary, including the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference to be held in Portland Oregon – America’s Greenest City – September 8-10 2010
Megan Epler Wood, TIES founder is to start a new course with the University of Vermont to commemorate the anniversary: see EPLER WOOD AND UNIV OF VERMONT START COURSE AS TIES ACCOLADE: www.travelmole.com/stories/1141246.php
And watch out for a series of inspiring ecotourism articles written by Megan Epler Wood to be published shortly in Vision on Sustainable Tourism.
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1141006.php
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