TIES Publications

TIES e-Publications

Tourism in the Polar Regions
The Sustainability Challenge

Produced by TIES and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this publication describes the key features of tourism's multiple roles in the Polar regions, and proposes an agenda for sustainable tourism development to conserve the unique wilderness areas.

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Sun, Sand and Sustainability
Corporate Environmental and Social Practice in Caribbean Coastal Tourism (2006)

This report summarizes research conducted by Emma Stewart, Ph.D. (Research Manager at Business for Social Responsibility) while at Stanford University, with the support of Environmental Defense and TIES.

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Consumer Demand and Operator Support for Socially and Environmentally Responsible Tourism
By Zoe Chafe (2005)

To create a current snapshot of the trends that are shaping the tourism industry and informing debates about certification, we analyzed a range of recent studies from the U.S., Europe, Costa Rica, and Australia.

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Ecotourism Handbooks on Certification

These handbooks were developed collaboratively by TIES, Rainforest Alliance and the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, based on a 4-year research project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank's Multilateral Investment Fund. While particularly relevant to the Americas, the handbooks incorporate examples from around the world, as well as lessons learned from certification programs in other industries. Available in English and Spanish, the handbooks illustrate how to advance tourism certification as a useful and reliable tool for travel consumers and businesses, and provide practical information on how tourism certification works, what funding mechanisms and resources can assist businesses seeking certification, how to effectively market and finance certification programs.

To download the handbooks, please click the links below:

Handbook I (User's Guide)

A Simple User's Guide to Certification for SustainableTourism and Ecotourism (pdf)

Una Guia Simple Para La Certificacion Del Turismo Sostenible Y El Ecotourismo (pdf)

Handbook II (Funding)

Practical Steps for Funding Certification of Tourism Businesses (pdf)

Pasos Practicos Para Financiar La Certification De Empresas Turisticas (pdf)

Handbook III (Marketing)

Practical steps for Marketing Tourism Certification (pdf)

Pasos Practicos Para Mercadear La Certificacion Turistica (pdf)

Handbook IV (Financing)

Practical Steps for Financing Tourism CertificationPrograms (pdf)

Financiamento De Programas De Certificacion(pdf)

Trade Issues in Sustainable Tourism Certification
By Barton H. Thompson, Jr. and Jennifer Coyle (2005)

An examination of the constraints imposed by international trade rules and organizations' barriers to trade.

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Landing Starting Planes Tourism and Climate Change

As part of TIES' ongoing advocacy campaign focusing on issues around ecotourism and climate change ("Traveling with Climate in Mind"), TIES and its partners have produced the following papers.

Nature Tour Operators’ Attitudes and Actions Concerning Travel Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2007)

Based on website analysis and a survey of tour operators who belong to TIES, Sustainable Tourism International (STI) and/or the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), this study examines tour operators' attitudes and actions around travel-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines for Nature-based Tour Operators (2nd draft, 2007)

The draft guidelines resulted from the 6-month research project undertaken by TIES, in collaboration with the University of Eberswalde (Germany) and the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development at Stanford University, as part of a broader TIES advocacy campaign on climate change. This is a working document that is being reviewed and revised by industry experts and professionals.

Voluntary Offsetting of Flight Emissions An effective way to mitigate the environmental impacts of long-haul tourism By Wolfgang Strasdas (2007)

Understanding the Calculation of Aircraft Emissions
By Richardo Bonner (2005)

This was written to supplement the Third Quarter 2005 EcoCurrents newsletter featuring Airline Carbon Offset Programs & Alternative Transportation.

Ecolodge Development

ICF Study on Nature-based Lodges

In 2003 and 2004, TIES and Epler Wood International were involved in a major study, on behalf of the World Bank's International Finance Corporation, of the environmental, social, and economic footprint of ecolodges and nature-based lodges around the world. TIES implemented a detailed survey to compile data on the current practices of the nature lodges operating in developing countries with significant nature tourism offerings.

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>> Download Part II

>> Download Part III

The Business of Ecolodges
(Member Only Access)
A Survey of Ecolodge Economics and Finance
By Edward G. Sanders and Elizabeth Halpenny
2001/ p.77

Developers, investors and operators currently lack any systematic information on the economics and financing of “ecolodges”. This lack of financial data has plagued the industry since its emergence in the 1980s,...

Please Read: Publications Policy

TIES publications, including articles published through TIES website, TIES blog, e-publications and e-newsletters, may be reproduced in whole or part for educational or non-profit purposes, provided proper acknowledgement of the source ("The International Ecotourism Society, www.ecotourism.org") is made.

No use of TIES publications may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose without prior permission in writing. TIES requests to receive a copy of any publication that uses a publication by TIES as a source. Please contact TIES at: info[at]ecotourism.org to obtain further details.

TIES Publications

ESTC 2010 Conference

EcoCurrents

Ecotourism Fund