The April 2009 edition of TIES EcoCurrents eMagazine is now available! You can view or download the eMagazine online at Member Center (Member log-in required).

EcoCurrents is the quarterly e-magazine of TIES, featuring current industry trends and best practice examples from around the world. Each issue focuses on a specific theme within ecotourism and sustainable travel. TIES members receive EcoCurrents as part of their member benefits. If you are not yet receiving EcoCurrents, please join TIES to receive complimentary copies of EcoCurrents and other great benefits!

In This Issue – ICTs for Ecotourism:

Ecotourism Explorer – ConnectWith the advancement and growing use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across the world, the effective use of ICTs has become a key element of marketing strategies. More and more travelers today are taking advantage of the convenience of online booking, and utilizing the Internet for their travel research. Try some simple tips introduced here and start enjoying the benefits of ICTs – a world of opportunities can be just a few clicks away!

Featured Stories:

• Indigenous Tourism, Biodiversity and Web-Based Initiatives By Oliver Hillel and Sofía Gutiérrez, Convention on Biological Diversity
• Connecting Communities through Integrated Web-based Technologies By Sylvie Blangy and Scott Mitchell
• ICT4Ecotourism @Wat Yai Chaimongkol Venerable Phra Maha Nutthanit Sumano (Wat Yai Chaimongkol, Thailand)

Social Media How-To Tips:

• How to Get Started in Social Media Promotions for Your Ecotourism Business By Nancy Harrison, Adventure Travel Media Source
• Is Blogging Right For You? By Jackie Fisher
• Twitter: A New Tool for Researching Your Trip Away By Stephen Chapman, Make Travel Fair

Special Report:

Can Sustainability Survive in Hard Economic Times? By Dina M. Belon “Dealing with sustainability during these economic conditions is a lot like what you might feel when in an airplane traveling with your child and the oxygen masks drop from overhead….”

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