G Adventures and its non-profit partner Planeterra have confirmed that the GX Community Tourism Summit will return this year, taking place in India.
Following the inaugural event in Cusco, Peru last year, this year’s summit will again give agents, suppliers, media and travellers a chance to experience first-hand the impact community tourism can have on a destination and its people.
Running from September 24-29, the second GX Summit will incorporate the Change Makers agent event before culminating in a World Community Tourism celebration on World Tourism Day (September 27, 2024).
More: G Adventures founder hails role of agents in promoting tourism
Change Makers, a campaign which incentivises agents to focus on “changing people’s lives through travel by booking G Adventures trips”, is live now and runs until May 31.
Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures and Planeterra founder, said: “Last year we hosted our first GX Summit in Peru and my mind was blown by the feedback we received following the event. There was no question we had to repeat this experience.
“The feedback from attendees was so encouraging, people came back energised about the power of community tourism to make a real difference to people in the places we visit.”
Poon Tip added India was an “obvious choice” to host this year’s event because of its vibrant culture, diverse tourism offerings, hospitable welcome and potential to foster more community tourism initiatives aimed at spreading wealth within the nation.
“India is an electrifying location, and one that really needs tourism’s support,” he said. “It’s not fully bounced back since the pandemic, so I’m excited to host our guests and to be able to encourage more people to travel to India the right way at the same time.
“There’s no better feeling for me than seeing all our communities come together over one shared experience. We learn a lot, but we also have a lot of fun.”
The GX Summit will take its guests on a six-day exploration of India covering Delhi, Jaipur and Agra and more.
The World Community Tourism Day Summit on September 27 will include talks from a range of speakers about how community tourism has the power to change people’s lives for the better.