The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Baja.com has joined the organization, representing the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, including Baja (northern Baja) and Baja California Sur (southern Baja), by becoming a destination member of ICTP.

“This is an important new member for ICTP. Having just returned from WTTC’s [World Travel & Tourism Council] Mexico summit and witnessing first-hand the commitment to our sector of President Felipe Calderon and Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara, I am convinced that this country will be a leader in driving home the green growth vision for our sector. Baja, of course, will be one of the jewels in the rich tourism offering of the country, and we will be working hard with them to spread the ICTP message of green growth and quality at a destination level,” said ICTP President Geoffrey Lipman.

Baja, California, remains largely untouched by development, a wild and natural land mass (the Baja Peninsula is approximately 800 miles long) surrounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on the other side the Sea of Cortez/Gulf of California. The government of Mexico and state government of Baja, along with entities including Baja.com, have supported efforts to protect ecological resources (for example, the Grey Whale Sanctuary and El Vizcaino biosphere program). These efforts are vital not only to nurturing Baja’s growing eco-tourism industry, but to ensuring a better and safer Baja for its inhabitants and for its vigorous wildlife community.

ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “We are pleased to add Baja.com to the fast-growing roster of destination members of our alliance. Baja.com is committed to quality green growth, and ICTP is pleased to support their eco-tourism efforts.”

“Baja California is in many ways an undiscovered paradise of ocean and lagoons, mountains and deserts, and pure clean air and beaches,” said Jim Pickell, Baja.com’s CEO. “Our goal is to promote tourism to this amazing area, and yet do it in a green and sustainable way. We want the public to actually see in real time the growth of the gray whale population, the preservation of heritage sites like cave paintings done by ancient peoples, even the work that is being done to preserve mountain and desert trails.”

Pickell added, “As a member of ICTP, we believe that we can build upon what we are already doing to be global eco-partners. For Baja and for Baja.com, this is a truly meaningful alliance and will provide us with greater and stronger resources than ever to enrich and protect our environment.”

Mexico is the world’s 10th most visited travel destination, and Baja, California, attracts millions of tourists annually. Baja.com provides information on virtually all areas of this nearly 800-mile-long peninsula with focus on major areas including Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, Tecate, Mexicali, San Felipe, San Quintin, Guerrero Negro, Mulege, Loreto, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and Todos Santos. Travel tips, deals, FAQs about Baja, itineraries, recreation, accommodation, and more are available at Baja.com. Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for Baja and unique and life changing tours, supported by a full-service travel agency staffed with local “Travel Savants.”