Who We Are – GEN – Global Ecotourism Network

We are a global group of ecotourism pioneers and practitioners, who want to share our many years of experience in ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices and also our wide contact network to help others.

We love nature, innovation and sustainable design, different cultures, great guides and know how important sustainability is for sharing a liveable planet.

We are for better tourism for the visitors and the visited. That does not necessarily mean more tourism.

We connected when we were the last Advisory Board of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and left because we differed with the TIES executive team about financial transparency and direction.

We are now connecting with other experienced ecotourism professionals and are working with networks in the main regions of the world.

Stork billed kingfisher – Borneo

Photographer: Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Board of Directors

Masaru Takayama

Japan | Chair

Masaru Takayama, Japan | Chair

Masaru Takayama is the founder and the advisor of Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) and the chairperson of Japan Alliance of Responsible Travel Agencies (JARTA), all to accelerate sustainable development in tourism. He joined in 2025 the board of directors of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) which runs certification program of Blue Flag and Green Key. Apart from these global and national initiatives, he runs Spirit of Japan Travel, a carbon- neutral boutique responsible travel agency registered in Awaji Island near Kobe. His latest agenda is to jointly promote community-benefit tourism with this travel agency at a Japan national cultural property, Shunyoso, to pass on the spirit of Japan for the generations to come.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/masaruecotourism/

Aivar Ruukel

Estonia | Vice Chair

Aivar Rukel, Estonia | Vice Chair

Aivar Ruukel has run a small local nature tourism business since 1992, located in Soomaa National Park of Estonia. He is a member of the Estonian Ecotourism Network since 1993, an auditor for Green Destinations certification scheme, and one of the organizers of the 1st European Ecotourism Conference held in Pärnu, Estonia in 2010. Aivar is on of the few builders of traditional Estonian expanded dugout canoes. Soomaa region in Estonia has the only living culture of expanded logboats within the European Union. Since 2021 the building and use of expanded logboats of Soomaa was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding list.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruukel/

Prof. Hitesh Mehta

Kenya – USA | Board Development & Governance

Prof. Hitesh Mehta, Kenya – USA | Board Development & Governance

Prof. Hitesh Mehta, a dual Kenya/USA citizen, is one of the world’s leading authorities, practitioners and researchers on ecotourism and sustainable tourism physical planning and both the landscape architectural and architectural aspects of ecolodges. Prof. Hitesh Mehta is a Protected Area Physical Planner, an eco-Architect, an eco-Interior Architect and an Eco-Landscape Architect. In 2006, National Geographic recognized Prof. Hitesh Mehta as one of five Sustainable Tourism Pioneers in the world for his ecotourism work in alleviating poverty and biodiversity protection. He is also an Adjunct Professor and an author of three books, including “Authentic Ecolodges” by world renowned publisher – Harper Collins.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitesh-mehta-fasla-friba-faak-assoc-aia-bb67724/

Prof. David Fennell

Canada | Secretary

Prof. David Fennell, Canada | Secretary

David Fennell, PhD, is Professor at the Brock University, Department of Geography and Tourism Studies in Canada. David conducts research mainly in the areas of ecotourism, tourism and animal ethics, and sustainable tourism. He has published widely in these areas, including books on Ecotourism (6th edition), Ecotourism Programme Planning, Tourism Ethics (2^nd edition), Codes of Ethics in Tourism, Tourism and Animal Ethics, and Sustainable Tourism: Principles, Contexts, and Practices. A major thrust of his research involves the use of theory from other disciplines to gain traction on tourism’s most persistent problems. Fennell is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ecotourism, is the editor of a Routledge book series on tourism ethics, is the editor of two Routledge Handbooks: Tourism and the environment, and Ecotourism, and is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. He also serves as Executive Director for the Centre of Animal-based Tourism.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fennell-14113151/

Ary Sendjaja Suhandi

Indonesia

Ary Sendjaja Suhandi, Indonesia

As an “Ecotourism enthusiast”, Ary Sendjaja Suhandi has been a leader of nature-based tourism in Indonesia since 1987. He is the founder of Indonesian Ecotourism Network (INDECON – 1995) and became the Director in 2002. He obtained the Awareness Certificate on Sustainable Tourism from Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in 2016 and has been selected as the Vice Chair Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) in 2018.

Ary has initiated ecotourism and community-based development initiatives in Indonesia, in many various aspects including destination management, institutional development, product development, etc. with local government, local communities, and international organizations. He had become technical advisor for ministries on sustainable tourism issues. For these, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has nominated INDECON as Finalist for Tourism for Tomorrow Award in 2016.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ary-suhandi-a18241157/

Glenn Jampol

USA – Costa Rica

Glenn Jampol, USA – Costa Rica

Glenn Jampol is a pioneer in Costa Rica and for the last 33 years has been the owner and developer of two award winning 5 level certified sustainable hotels in Costa Rica: Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Farm & Inn. Since 1998 Finca Rosa Blanca has achieved the highest level possible in Costa Rica in the program, Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) and before it was disbanded, the Inn was one of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World.

Mr. Jampol is also a farmer and purveyor of single origin estate organic coffee (www.CafeRosaBlanca.com), and was the global recipient of the Rainforest Alliance International Sustainable Standard Setter Award. He has pioneered agro-ecotourism combining regenerative tourism with organic farming,

For six years Mr. Jampol was the President of the Costa Rica National Ecotourism Association (CANAECO) and in 2009 he created the renowned International Conference, Planet, People, Peace (P3), a bi-annual ecotourism conference

Currently Mr. Jampol is the Chair of the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN), and is a founding member of the newly formed Latin America & Caribbean Ecotourism Network (LACEN). He is also a director of the board of the World Food Tourism Association (WFTA).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-jampol-50037912/

Jorge Moller

Chile

Jorge Moller, Chile

Jorge Moller started with ecotourism in 1985 in the South of Chile, founded “Eco Travel” in the Lake District Puerto Varas in 1990, and has always been dedicated to nature and cultural tourism. A pioneer in the area of Specialist Interest Tourism throughout the country, Jorge was a founding member of Chile’s adventure travel regulatory organization (C.A.T.A.) and the Tourism Corporation of Puerto Varas. Always aware of bringing an environmental education perspective into a tourism experience, he was the Owner of Darwin’s Trails Chile, a joint English-Chilean inbound Tour Operator with 20 years of experience providing authentic local experiences and local people contact for clients visiting Chile and Patagonia. Jorge works as a consultant with indigenous communities such as the Mapuches, Likan Antai, Yagan and Rapa-Nui to provide them tools for sustainable development. As an active member of the Board of the Chilean Tourism Bureau, he promotes the destination of Chile in a sustainable way so as to include all types of experiences around the multiple Chilean territories and destinations

Jorge was also a teacher at the Universidad Católica and a strategic partner of Fedetur (integrating the upcoming Sustainable Distinction “S” in Hotels and Tour Operators). In 2013, Jorge participated in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Early Adopter Program in Chile and had the privilege to represent Chile’s Lake Region at the GSTC AGM in Bonito, Brazil. Jorge was instrumental in the cofounding and development of the South American Sustainable Tourism Network (SAST Network), which came into existence after this year’s GSTC AGM and the ESTC in Bonito, Brazil. Jorge is also a GSTC Country Representative and trainer in Chile and Director of the Destination Sustainable Working Group at the GSTC. He co-organized the 2015 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Puerto Varas. Today, Jorge is working with different destinations of Latin-America like Robinson Crusoe, Cape Horn and Qhapac Ñan, to raise value and communicate to the national and international markets.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorge-moller/

Nabil Tarazi

Jordan

Nabil Tarazi, Jordan

After 17 years working in the technology sector, Nabil Tarazi left his job in 2006 and spent a year backpacking in Australia and Asia where he found his calling: adventure and ecotourism. He founded EcoHotels in 2009, and entered into partnership with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to manage and operate the only ecolodge in Jordan, Feynan Ecolodge. Under Nabil’s management, Feynan became a model ecotourism destination, achieving numerous international awards, including being selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of the best 25 ecolodges in the world. Nabil now consults on the development and operation of ecolodges in the Middle East.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nabiltarazi/

Karen Lewis

USA – Costa Rica

Karen Lewis, USA – Costa Rica

Karen Lewis, with co-founder John Lewis, were ecotourism pioneers in the remote Osa Peninsula of SW Costa Rica. In 1990, they purchased over 1,080 pristine acres (440 H.) of mostly-primary rainforest to develop an ecolodge with 14 bungalows. Their purpose: Conserve the property and demonstrate best sustainable practices can be fiscally viable by involving, educating and working exclusively with a rural community. That focus has helped to benefit and promote environmental conservation by all stakeholders, including curious travelers seeking to make a difference on holiday. With three neighbors Karen founded the nearby Carbonera Primary School, a process that developed over 25 years into a travelers’ philanthropy effort to build or remodel 14 additional remote schools.

Since 2019, Lapa Rios has continued with new ownership. The lodge offers authentic, educational experiences to the community and international travelers surrounded by a globally recognized biodiverse forest overlooking the Pacific; almost 900-acres were placed under a conservation easement in perpetuity prior to the ownership transfer.

Karen Lewis is mostly-retired, yet involved in developing the North American Ecotourism Network (NAEN) aligned with GEN. She resides in the USA.

Kirsi Hyvaerinen

Finland – Montenegro

Kirsi Hyvaerinen, Finland – Montenegro

Since the mid 1990’s, Kirsi Hyvaerinen has worked with NGOs, business associations, international development agencies, and local and national governments. Firstly, as a B2B marketer for Latin American destinations and SMEs (1995 – 1998) and then as a regional DMO director in the Black Forest (1998 – 2001). In her position as a specialist of Travel, Leisure and Tourism at KPMG Consulting (later BearingPoint) Kirsi worked with a diverse range of clients, from leading travel technology providers to destinations (2001 – 2008). In her role as senior advisor to the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro (2006 – 2013), she worked closely with the government and NTO management, helping to establish funding sources and linking national and international stakeholders and partners. Completed projects of destination and business development in Europe, the Caribbean and Asia (2011 – 2021).

In 2013, she founded her own company and as a consultant and facilitator, concentrates on capacity building, organisational change, service diversification for emerging destinations, branding and marketing of responsible, new, community-and-nature-based tourism products. Kirsi is co-founder and partner of the Balkan Green initiative. With the ICRT global, Kirsi helps connect global trail blazers of responsible tourism with local voices of the Balkans – see https://icrt.global/icrt-balkans/. Since 2018, serving in the Management Board of GEN, Kirsi helps develop the European Ecotourism Network (EEN). Since 2020, working with Green Destinations, as certified coach and auditor; a Travelife certified coach and auditor for tour operators, and since 2006, a regular guest lecturer at European Universities. She is also co-founder and -leader of the Travel Massive Montenegro chapter. Under Kirsi´s project leadership (2003 – 2024), the VDR Business Travel Report Germany delivered pioneering research with facts, figures and trends. Most importantly, Kirsi is of Finnish origin and loves nature. She holds a degree in Business Administration (Tourism Management and Marketing) from Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsihyvaerinen/

Tony Charters

Australia

Tony Charters, Australia – Vice Chair

Tony Charters has over 20 years’ experience in tourism planning, development and management. He was a founding director of Ecotourism Australia and has served continuously on the Board since 1990. He also serves on the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN). An environmental scientist and urban and regional planner by profession, Tony entered the tourism industry after a senior executive career in World Heritage Area. In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia by the Governor-General for his services to ecotourism.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-charters-am-1a6b456/

GEN Emeritus Family

Albert Teo

Malaysia

Albert Teo, Malaysia

Albert Teo has been in the tourism industry since 1977. Starting out as a hotelier for fourteen years, he set up Borneo Eco Tours in 1991, and Sukau Rainforest Lodge in 1995 which was a charter member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the Word from 2016 until 2020 when it was discontinued. A keen photographer, he also published several books, convened five international ecotourism conferences and speaks regularly on ecotourism and community development internationally. In 2007, he set up non-profit foundation, BEST Society, funded by his companies which in 2013 received the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation under the category of Non-Governmental Organizations. He served as an Adjunct Lecturer (2006-2009) and conferred a Fellow of Edith Cowan university in 2012. In 2019 he was awarded the Sabah Tourism Special Minister’s Award for his significant contribution in the tourism industry over 42 years. Presently in 2026, he holds the role of Founder/Executive Chairman of the companies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-teo-16b87024/

Ariane Janér (†)

Brazil

Ariane Janér (†), Brazil

Ariane Janér was a Dutch zoologist with an MBA who had worked with ecotourism and sustainable development in Brazil from1991 to her untimely death in 2022. She was the Secretary of the Executive Board of GEN and was the visionary behind the creation of a one-of-a-kind Timeline Treasures of Ecotourism.

She was active in the field both as a consultant and through NGOs, with ample experience in product development, marketing and business plans. Through her company Bromelia Consult she had been involved with projects that ranged from developing community tourism projects to implementing sustainable procurement in large companies. She was also a co-founder and technical director for Instituto Homo Caballus (iHOCA), which aimed to spread equestrian culture and help people connect to nature through horses. Her personal interests in ecotourism were conservation, animal welfare and nature interpretation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariane-janer-ab733a/

Deirdre Campbell

Canada

Deirdre Campbell, Canada

As managing director of Canadian-based Beattie Tartan, Deirdre Campbell has been entrenched in the global tourism market for more than 17 years. What began as a west coast-based boutique PR agency called Tartan in 2001 with a handful of Canadian signature experiences, quickly expanded internationally with a range of luxury eco resorts across Central and South America. This was also the beginning of Deirdre’s passion for sustainable tourism, and she is a founding member of the Global Ecotourism Network and the IMPACT Sustainable Travel and Tourism Conference held annually in Victoria, BC. IMPACT’s goal is to begin the important dialogue around tourism’s legacy across Canada. In 2017, Tartan merged with the Beattie Group, a UK based PR agency with over 34 years of experience and 12 offices. This allowed Deirdre to expand her team’s digital expertise and build a substantial client base across Canada. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary, and associates in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Montreal and New York, today Beattie Tartan counts the Jordan Tourism Board, Destination Canada and Indigenous Tourism Canada among its tourism clients.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdrecampbell/

Edith Anne Alusa

Kenya

Edith Anne Alusa, Kenya

Edith Anne Alusa is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in strategic environmental management having held senior positions in both public and private sectors in Kenya, from co-ordinating field training and country-wide surveys to policy formulation for countries and regional blocks. A Chevening scholar experienced in building teams, developing and assessing environmental and social safeguard programs. Strong networks in tourism, conservation, environment, sustainable agriculture and energy spaces. Passionate about research and social engagement to develop legacies of positive change.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edithalusa/

Mihee Kang

South Korea

Mihee Kang, South Korea

Dr. Mihee Kang serves as the Chief Assurance Officer at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), where she also works as a trainer and destination assessor. Earning her Ph.D. in Ecotourism from Seoul National University in 1999—the first person to do so in South Korea—she has dedicated over 30 years to sustainable tourism policy and development planning. Recognized with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Young Scientists Award in 2000, Dr. Kang has an extensive background in teaching and researching ecotourism and sustainable tourism at various universities.

Her expertise spans establishing tourism standards and certification processes, as well as conducting sustainability assessments for destinations globally. She has held key leadership roles in domestic and international organizations and has contributed to numerous research and Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects across Australia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, and beyond. Additionally, Dr. Kang is a prolific author, having published numerous articles and books.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miheekang/

Rob Holmes

USA

Rob Holmes, USA

Rob Holmes is the Founder & Chief Strategist of GLP Films, an award-winning content marketing agency dedicated to authentic storytelling and ROI-based distribution campaigns for the travel industry. Rob has over 20 years’ experience in travel, with a diverse background in multimedia content, sustainable tourism, strategic marketing and global business. Since founding GLP, Rob has harnessed the power of the travel industry to create positive impacts across destinations, communities and stakeholders. Rob has traveled to over 40 countries, directed 200+ films, and spearheaded countless global content campaigns for destinations, media, airlines, brands, operators, hotels, and nonprofit organizations. In line with his dedication to sustainable tourism, Rob has a BA degree in Wildlife Management and Conservation Biology, and an MBA in International Business, Marketing and Environmental Management. Rob often speaks on sustainable tourism, storytelling, and content marketing at leading industry events.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbholmes/

Staff

Prof. Marianela Camacho

Venezuela | Communications Manager

Marianela Camacho, Venezuela | Communications Manager

Prof. Marianela Camacho has been GEN Communications Manager since March 2018. A founder member of the Latin American & Caribbean Ecotourism Network (LACEN), she is also a Research Professor of Architecture and Design at Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela.
Marianela is passionate about ecotourism, sustainable tourism, protected natural areas and indigenous populations, especially indigenous cultures in her own country, Venezuela.

She received a BSc. in Architecture, as well as an MSc. Comprehensive Planning for Tourist Development from Universidad del Zulia and a PhD in Tourism and Leisure at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Catalunya, Spain.

She is a member of Fundación Etnika, Angel Conservation Corporation and the Jimmie Angel Historical Project, working on the planning, design, management and implementation of interdisciplinary cooperative development projects related to tourism, cultural conservation and production / agricultural processes in protected natural areas.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianela-camacho-04928353/