Tourism & Conservation Alliance

What is Tourism & Conservation Alliance?

Tourism & Conservation Alliance (TCA) is an annual international membership, improvement, and conservation program for tourism operators that want to connect their business in a meaningful way to biodiversity protection, an international network, and a credible sustainability journey.

The program brings together conservation projects, visibility, content, progressive improvement, and, where the right conditions exist, network opportunities linked to calls and funding that can be reinvested.

Become a member

Why is it different

The program was not designed as a simplified certification, but as a more careful and credible model to help operators take a real step forward.

It offers an accessible pathway, strengthens what the operator is already doing, connects membership to concrete conservation projects, and can gradually open up network opportunities and shared initiatives, without promising guaranteed results or funding.

Key points

it brings together membership, conservation, and improvement in one coherent proposal
it makes it possible to support active and recognizable environmental projects
it values the operator’s journey without creating misleading expectations
it offers participation, visibility, and engagement benefits proportionate to the membership level
it can evolve over time toward more advanced pathways, without forcing an audit or certification logic from the start

How does it work?

Each member joins the program for 12 months.

Upon joining, they receive:

access to the program guidelines
self-assessment questionnaire
a badge corresponding to their level
basic communication materials
access to the network and the content provided by the selected membership

During the year, the member takes part in a light but structured pathway, with updates, visibility tools, content, and opportunities consistent with their profile.

Real conservation

Program members contribute to the support of concrete conservation projects.

The program is built around two main streams:

Sea (Friend of the Sea projects)
Earth (Friend of the Earth projects)

Each member is mainly associated with one of the two groups based on their business, location and operational profile. In some cases, the Foundation may define the most suitable group.

The supported projects are updated every six months. In this way, each member can say that they contribute to supporting two conservation projects per year, always within their main stream of reference.

Every six months, each member will receive a short report on the conservation results achieved thanks to their contribution.

Program memberships

Three levels, one progressive logic.

€ 100 /Year

Membership in the network for 12 months
Explorer Partner badge
Presence in the public directory
Access to the program guidelines and self-assessment questionnaire
Updates on the supported conservation projects
Digital certificate of membership and support for conservation
Access to any agreements with certified suppliers, when available
Basic communication kit

€ 250 /Year

Includes everything in the Explorer level
Enhanced directory profile
Annual webinar or training group
Possibility of appearing in collective social or editorial content
Opportunity alerts filtered by operator type
Priority access to the most relevant collective opportunities, when they arise
Impact Partner badge
Annual mini improvement roadmap with 3–5 recommended priorities

€ 500 /Year

Includes everything in the Impact level
Annual one-to-one onboarding call
Light desk review of the self-assessment questionnaire with concise feedback
Priority placement in the directory and in editorial content
Dedicated spotlight story or case study
Annual funding orientation call
Pioneer Partner badge

Calls, grants, and network opportunities

Tourism & Conservation Alliance may identify and develop applications for calls, funds, and opportunities that are consistent with the program, building, where possible, network initiatives or partnerships involving members.

This activity aims to create additional opportunities which, if they materialize, may generate resources to be reinvested in:

improving members’ sustainable practices
reducing some costs linked to the sustainability transition
protecting biodiversity
developing collective positive-impact initiatives

Note: It is essential to clarify that the program cannot guarantee the awarding of funding, nor selection in calls. Opportunities will be evaluated and developed only where concrete conditions of relevance, feasibility, and value for the network exist.

Who is it for

The program is designed for tourism operators that want to connect their business concretely to a credible sustainability and conservation pathway.

The most suitable profiles include:

hotels, resorts, lodges, campsites, and B&Bs
travel agencies and tour operators
dolphin and whale watching boats
snorkeling operators
diving centers
beach clubs and bathing establishments

What the program is not

To ensure clarity and fairness, Tourism & Conservation Alliance does not offer, at this stage:

a full sustainability certification
on-site audits
guaranteed access to calls or funding
guaranteed economic or reputational results
structured individual grant writing
ongoing customized consultancy included in the membership

Why join

Joining the program means:

supporting concrete biodiversity conservation projects
entering a credible international network
communicating your commitment in a more structured way
taking part in an improvement pathway consistent with your profile
gaining visibility, content, and opportunities proportionate to your membership level

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

Is it a certification?

No. At this stage, the program is not a certification. It is a program of membership, participation, and improvement.

Is the membership the purchase of services?

No. Membership represents annual participation in the program and a contribution to its development and to the supported conservation projects.

How are the supported projects selected?

Members are mainly associated with either the sea or land stream based on their profile. The supported projects are updated every six months.

Does everyone receive the same benefits?

No. There is a progressive three-level structure: Explorer, Impact, and Pioneer.

Can the program guarantee access to calls or funding?

No. The program may identify and develop networking opportunities, but it cannot guarantee results or funding.

Download the full FAQ document

Join Tourism & Conservation Alliance

If you would like to join an international program that brings together tourism, biodiversity, and conservation in a concrete way, you can request information and assess which membership level best fits your profile.

Discover the membership level best suited to your organization