Peru is to play host a G Adventures community tourism summit bringing together agents, suppliers, media and travellers from around the world.
The first GX travel convention is designed to enable delegates to experience firsthand the impact community tourism can have on a destination.
The event runs on September 22-28 with individual groups having dedicated itineraries.
GX will culminate with the first World Community Tourism Summit, to be hosted on World Tourism Day, September 27, featuring a line-up of inspiring speakers and entertainment.
Peru has been chosen by G Adventures, in support of its non-profit partner Planeterra, to host the gathering as it has struggled with its return to pre-pandemic tourism numbers due to recent civil unrest
Planeterra will mark its 20th anniversary at the event and G Adventures will recognise its belated 30th anniversary, which was postponed for three years by the pandemic.
GX will be invitation-only, but agents have a chance to attend with the announcement that the 2023 Change Makers event – revealed last month – will be hosted as part of GX.
Sixty five agents who have played their role in changing lives through travel will be brought together from different regions.
Change Makers runs until June 30. The campaign incentivises 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 how their work directly impacts local communities in the destinations G Adventures sends travellers to.
G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip described GX as an event unlike any the travel industry has seen before.
He said: “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 recognising 20 years of Planeterra, 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 groundbreaking event in travel – it really will be the first of its kind.”
More details on GX and the World Community Tourism Day will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to the operator.