The International Ecotourism Society Philippines Inc. (TIESPHI.) proudly stands as a beacon of sustainable tourism, having been conferred the Icons of Change Award 2025—a prestigious recognition honoring organizations that create lasting, transformative impact for people and the planet. This distinguished award acknowledges TIES Ph Inc.’s exceptional contributions to ecotourism and its unwavering commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land, which calls for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

Through decades of advocacy, education, and on-the-ground action, TIES Ph Inc. has championed biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and inclusive community development. Their work exemplifies how tourism, when guided by responsibility and purpose, can serve as a powerful driver of environmental protection and socio-economic progress.

TIESPHI has consistently demonstrated that economic growth and environmental responsibility are not opposing forces, but complementary goals. As a non-stock, non-profit organization, TIES Ph Inc. has dedicated itself to transforming tourism landscapes by placing sustainability, conservation, and community empowerment at the heart of development.

By fostering responsible travel practices and advocating for ethical tourism standards, the organization has helped reshape tourism policies and industry practices in the Philippines and across the region. Its innovative, inclusive, and science-based approach to ecotourism has positioned TIES Ph Inc. as a trusted partner of governments, local communities, academic institutions, and private sector stakeholders.

For more than three decades, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)—established in 1990—has served as a global authority in ecotourism education, advocacy, and industry standards. With an extensive international network spanning over 190 countries and territories, TIES brings together ecotourism professionals, conservationists, policymakers, tour operators, researchers, and community leaders from around the world. United by shared values, this global network champions tourism that is low-impact, community-centered, and environmentally responsible.

Through its Philippine chapter, TIES Ph Inc. has localized these global principles, ensuring they respond meaningfully to the country’s rich biodiversity, cultural diversity, and unique development challenges. In doing so, the organization has helped shape tourism into a force for environmental regeneration and social equity.

TIESPHI mission is the belief that tourism should protect and enhance—rather than exploit and deplete—natural and cultural resources. This guiding principle drives the organization’s programs, partnerships, and policy engagements.

TIES Ph Inc. delivers comprehensive training, technical assistance, and advocacy initiatives designed to empower tourism stakeholders at all levels. From national and local governments to tourism enterprises, indigenous peoples, and host communities, the organization equips partners with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks needed to implement sustainable tourism models that prioritize conservation, cultural respect, and long-term economic resilience.

One of its primary objectives is to educate and enable stakeholders to adopt tourism strategies that align with sustainable development goals. Through evidence-based policy recommendations, community-based ecotourism initiatives, capacity-building programs, and cross-sector collaborations, TIES Ph Inc. promotes tourism systems that preserve biodiversity, reduce environmental footprints, and create dignified livelihood opportunities for local communities.

TIESPHI has played a pivotal role in transforming tourism destinations into living examples of environmental stewardship and community resilience. By working closely with local government units, indigenous and rural communities, conservation organizations, and tourism operators, the organization has facilitated the adoption of eco-friendly tourism practices, sustainable business models, and green infrastructure solutions.

These efforts have contributed to the protection of critical ecosystems, the conservation of wildlife habitats, and the revitalization of cultural traditions—while ensuring that economic benefits are equitably shared among host communities. Through inclusive participation and respect for indigenous knowledge systems, TIES Ph Inc. strengthens community ownership of tourism initiatives, fostering pride, self-reliance, and long-term sustainability.