Three benevolent funds have been established by G Adventures following requests from travellers wanting to help people impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are designed to support the operator’s tour guides, Inca Trail porters, cooks and horsemen, and local community projects that typically rely on tourism.
A wellbeing fund for the company’s CEOs – chief experience officers – enables travellers to express their gratitude by contributions.
“While G Adventures has always helped its CEOs on an ad-hoc basis, the current landscape has prompted the decision to create a more permanent, long-term fund, which will be managed by G Adventures non-profit partner, Planeterra,” the company said.
A support fund for porters will help those who have been unable to work due to the effects of Covid-19.
Many live in remote villages that are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of tourism.
The fund gives past travellers who have hiked the Inca Trail, Lares Trek, Salkantay Trail or Choquequirao Trek the opportunity to give back to the teams that make these trips possible.
The Planeterra Impact Fund has been created to help people at 85 projects in more than 50 countries which rely on travellers visiting to earn an income.
Planeterra is encouraging travellers to “turn travel into impact from home” by donating to help the social enterprises to weather the storm and enable them to continue providing memorable experiences to travellers in the future.
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip is matching the first $50,000 of donations to both the CEO Wellbeing and Planeterra Impact Funds.
He said: “I’ve had hundreds, if not thousands, of letters asking me how to help. This is what makes our community of travellers different – we transcend travel when our collective humanity extends support during difficult times.
“These funds all have been launched to answer requests to help people in need. It is one of the most heart-warming movements I’ve witnessed in my 30 years of building G Adventures as a leader in social enterprise and community tourism.
“Our teams on the ground pour their hearts into making sure our travellers have life-changing experiences on every trip, and the connections they make with travellers can last a lifetime.
“These new funds represent our commitment to community tourism by offering the opportunity to make a positive change at a time we can’t do that through travelling.”