A virtual Mount Everest trek involving UK and Ireland agents helped raise $76,000 to aid global community tourism organisations suffering from a Covid-19 travel slump.
They collectively tracked over 1.7 million steps in a week as part of the challenge organsed by the Planeterra Foundation charity created by G Adventures’ founder Bruce Poon Tip.
The fundraiser challenged 550 participants from 30 countries to ‘virtually’ trek the 85,000 steps it would take to climb to Everest Base Camp.
The virtual event featured a number of travel agent teams, as well as teams from G Adventures, TruTravels, Travelsphere and JustYou.
Poon Tip competing in his own team and leading the fundraising efforts with more than $13,000 raised. He also matched donations up to $19,000.
Donations will provide kickstarter funding for communities worldwide that need to invest in new health and safety measures, provide training to safely reopen and ensure communities remain resilient and safe.
Planeterra president Jamie Sweeting said: “What we witnessed is an incredible show of support from Planeterra’s global community, which grew in the weeks before, and during the Planeterra Trek Challenge.
“Travellers love authentic experiences that give back to the communities they visit, and by raising these funds they demonstrated that they want our local partners to be there when we’re all able to travel again.”