Mission

• TIES encourages people to participate in and promote environmentally responsible travel to natural areas. This initiative is designed to reduce the impact of travel on both the local ecosystem and the indigenous people. TIES has created a network of participating members in over 90 countries, including tourists and tourism professionals who cater to environmentally conscious travelers. The organization also provides guidance and training for both tourists and tourism industry personnel on how to reduce the harm that travel does to the ecosystem.
  
  

Projects

• TIES runs one-time and ongoing projects to help spread and encourage participation in its environmental initiatives. The organization's projects as of January 2011 include ecoDestination, which highlights a new eco-friendly destination each month for members. Also, the Ecotourism and Indigenous Communities project is designed to encourage and support communities that engage in TIES ecotourism initiatives. TIES also sets the requirements for gaining a University Consortium Certificate in Sustainable Tourism. Students participate in a multidisciplinary study and training program to gain a holistic understanding of ecotourism that they can apply in industry jobs.
  
  

Partners

• TIES partners with other non-profit organizations that share its commitment to sustainable travel. It also has tourism industry partners that provide eco-friendly travel, destinations and lodging for tourists. As a non-profit organization, TIES also solicits and accepts donations and membership for its projects from corporate and private donors. These donors become TIES members and are encouraged to provide local expertise to projects, participate in training sessions and encourage initiatives in their community.
  
  

Participation

• TIES is always looking for volunteers and members to help strengthen awareness and participation in its ecotourism campaigns. Members can participate by booking travel through a participating eco-friendly organization or by traveling only to ecotourism destinations. Participation is also encouraged by providing a donation to both ongoing and future TIES projects as well as offering volunteer hours to these causes. Another way to participate is to attend one of the group's many awareness events and eco-awareness training conferences that take place throughout the year.