As part of our efforts to educate consumers about responsible travel choices, TIES, along with several other global institutions and organizations such as the United Nations Environmental Programme, United Nations Foundation, Rainforest Alliance and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, has been working on developing a global process evaluating the effectiveness of certification mechanisms that clearly set apart sustainable from non-sustainable forms of tourism. (See: www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org for more information.).

CNN: The International Ecotourism Society statement

This is compared with 9.5 million in 2011 and 14.1 million in 2010, prior to the outbreak Arab Spring, according to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

CNN: Egypt's tourism minister: Webcams will prove we're safe

In an effort to harmonize these efforts, sustainable tourism heavyweights including Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Foundation, as well as travel groups such as Expedia, Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and Hyatt Hotels have joined together to create the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

CNN: Giving something back