The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) Sends Condolences and Urges Support for Relief Efforts
Washington, DC — The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) sends deepest condolences to its many members in the areas devastated by the Indonesian earthquake and Indian Ocean tsumanis and calls on tourists and tourism businesses around the world to support the relief effortsВ TIES, the oldest and largest organization dedicated to socially and environmentally responsible travel, joins calls for the international community to generously and swiftly respond to what is described as possibly the worst humanitarian crisis ever.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this unprecedented natural calamity, the vast majority of whom are ordinary people, and a disproportionately high number of whom are children,” says TIES Executive Director Martha Honey.
However, tourism and ecotourism, prime economic activities in most of these areas, is also a victim of this unprecedented disaster. The tsunamis ravaged beaches and coastal resorts at the height of the tourism season. The timing could not have been worse: tourism in many of these countries was just beginning to recover from downturns caused by civil wars, the SARs virus, terrorism, and economic recession.
In assessing the damage and mapping recovery, TIES calls on governments, the media, and international agencies to avoid sweeping generalities and to carefully distinguish between unsafe regions and those that were mercifully spared. One piece of the recovery will be to continue to promote international travel to safe areas in the affected countries. While TIES urgently seeks news of the fate of colleagues in the region, the Society also pledges to work with other organizations to promote continued international travel to the undamaged regions of these Indian Ocean countries. Over the next months, TIES will do via our website and publications, through the media, and at travel shows and other public venues.
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December 31, 2004
Posted in: Travel Advisory