TIES provides the following principles and guidelines for ecotourism:
-Minimise physical, social, behavioural, and psychological impacts to the tourist destination and the communities who live in the region.
-Build environmental awareness, cultural awareness and respect among tour operators, the local communities and the tourists.
-Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
-Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
-Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.
-Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors, thus raising sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental and social climates.
-Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.
-Recognise the rights and spiritual beliefs of indigenous people in the community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.
-Implement practices that are sustainable.