An excerpt of some of the principles laid out by G Adventures and the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University that are meant to serve as the basis for responsibly developing tourism products and experiences involving indigenous communities:
• Full and effective participation: Ensure that indigenous communities and suppliers participate in all strategic discussions and can incorporate their traditional laws and customs into that process.
• Equitable engagement: Indigenous communities should be treated as equal business partners and should determine for themselves their desired level of involvement in tourism activities.
• Business values: Respect traditional values, customs and conventions in all business transactions.
• Local purchasing: Give priority to indigenous suppliers when purchasing and offering goods and services.
• Community support: Provide direct employment and skills-training opportunities to local indigenous communities.
• Local ownership: Ensure indigenous community members own and derive direct benefits from tourism products and services.
• Decent work: Respect labor rights, provide safe and secure working environments, ensure living wages and offer opportunities for advancement.
• Protection of cultural heritage: Ensure that traditional lands, territories, sacred sites and resources are used with communities' full knowledge and consent and are protected against exploitation.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Track the impact of business relationships in order to minimize potential negative outcomes and ensure a process is in place for resolving potential grievances.
• Cultural interaction: Promote respectful visitor-host interactions that foster cross-cultural understanding and don't disrupt daily routines.
• Collaborative interpretation: Ensure that all storytelling and narratives about indigenous communities are accurate and approved by the indigenous community itself.