History of ETE

History of the Association Ecological Tourism in Europe

ETE was founded in 1991 as a non-profit interest group of nature, environmental protection and leisure organisations. It is committed to the implementation of sustainable tourism and carries out exemplary projects at home and abroad, either alone or in cooperation with other organisations, to promote sustainable development in regions, e.g. in protected areas and mountain regions.

ETE has also been active in Central and Eastern European countries for many years and has a wealth of practical experience in this area. As a member association, ETE works closely with the organisation CEEweb for Biodiversity, a network of over 60 Central and Eastern European nature and environmental protection organisations. In addition to cooperating on specific projects, ETE is co-coordinator of the international Sustainable Tourism Working Group (STWG). In Germany, it has been the coordinator of the ‘Tourism’ working group for many years, in which nationwide organisations from nature conservation and environmental protection, leisure, sport and tourism work together to promote sustainable tourism and preserve biodiversity.