G Adventures is planning the world’s biggest community tourism summit this fall in Peru. The multi-day mega-event will include the inaugural GX summit, the first World Community Tourism Summit, and G’s 2023 Change Makers event and will be a travel convention “unlike any the travel industry has seen before,” according to G founder Bruce Poon Tip.
Presented by Toronto-based G Adventures, in support of its non-profit partner Planeterra, the invitation-only event, being held Sept. 22-28 and notably taking place over World Tourism Day on Sept. 27, will be attended by travel agents, suppliers, media, and travellers from around the globe “to experience firsthand what an incredible impact community tourism can have on a destination.”
That carefully chosen destination is Peru – a country that has struggled with its return to pre-pandemic tourism numbers due to recent civil unrest.
Planeterra will also be celebrating its 20th anniversary at the event, and G Adventures will recognize its belated 30th anniversary, which was postponed three years by the pandemic.
Sixty-five select agents from different regions “who have played their role in changing lives through travel” will have a chance to attend as part of the 2023 Change Makers event – revealed last month.
The events will have its own dedicated itinerary, and culminate with the first World Community Tourism Summit, to be hosted on World Tourism Day, Sept. 27.
Poon Tip says GX will be a feel-good celebration that has the potential to drive change and make a huge difference to the lives of local people through its concurrent fundraising efforts for Planeterra’s 20th anniversary.
“We’ve thrown lots of great parties and events in our 33 years of operation, but this will be the biggest yet. With Planeterra’s 20th and our 30th anniversaries, it needs to be something special and never-done before. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to recognizing 20 years of Planeterra and the great work that has been done, and to help raise money to continue the great work they are doing to change lives in the communities we visit.
“There’s no better way to show our travel community first-hand how tourism has the power to drive positive change than through experience. We’ve been showcasing the beautiful concept of community tourism to our travellers for years, but wanted to open it up to the industry to experience as well.
“In true G Adventures style, we’re continuing to innovate with GX which will be a ground-breaking event in travel – it really will be the first of its kind,” says Poon Tip.
Change Makers is live now and runs until June 30. The campaign incentivizes agents to focus on changing people’s lives through travel by booking G Adventures trips. Agents who successfully earn a place at Change Makers will see firsthand how their work directly impacts local communities in the destinations G Adventures takes its travellers to.
Agents can visit: https://sherpa.gadventures.com/change-makers/ and log into Sherpa or speak to their regional global purpose specialist for more information.
More details on GX and the World Community Tourism Day will be revealed in the coming weeks. For more information, click HERE.