G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip has described the company’s first World Community Tourism Summit as “massively successful”.
The operator teamed up with its partner Planeterra to host more than 400 guests at the inaugural ‘GX’ event in Cusco, Peru, on Wednesday (September 27).
A group of UK travel agents was among the audience for a series of talks and panel discussions celebrating the positive impact of community tourism.
More:G Adventures to host 13 UK agents and partners at first GX event
Poon Tip said: “GX has been amazing – it’s been better than we ever dreamed of.”
In the days leading up to GX, held on World Tourism Day, guests were invited to see the social enterprise projects supported by non-profit organisation Planeterra.
These included Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op and a site in Cuyo Chico offering pottery sessions and an empanada masterclass.
During the summit in Municipalidad Provincial del Cusco, G Adventures unveiled its ‘Trees for Days’ initiative and announced that a collection called ‘Geluxe’ would be coming soon.
Poon Tip described the occasion as “massively successful” and confirmed it would become an annual event.
“We have four companies bidding for GX next year,” he said.
American disco group Village People, whose hits include YMCA, performed at the event’s after-party.