Community tourism pioneer G Adventures, together with its non-profit partner, Planeterra, have announced the first five projects in its Project 100 initiative, which is a commitment to have 100 projects built into its tours by the end of 2020.
The five new projects bring the total number of Planeterra projects built into G Adventures tours to 80, and all will launch between January and March this year. Each year, more than 100,000 travellers visit the Planeterra projects, impacting the lives of 60,000 local people.
The new projects have a strong focus on people as well as the environment and include support of a new coral garden where travellers can snorkel in the Whitsundays, as well as a ‘green corridor’ in Madagascar where they will plant trees in an area that has been heavily impacted by deforestation.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures said: “It’s our goal for 90% of our company’s small-group trips to visit a community tourism project that supports women and children, and Indigenous culture. Now more than ever, we’re also looking at projects that empower local communities to protect their local environment at the same time.”
All G Adventures and Planeterra projects are selected according to the biggest benefit to the community resulting from traveller numbers. Particularly where women, youth and Indigenous people have been disadvantaged by a lack of access to education, jobs and income opportunities. The first five Project 100 projects are Dqae Qare San Lodge in D’Kar, Botswana; Reef Ecologic in Whitsundays, Australia; Soa Zara in Ranohira, Madagascar; Libaran Island in Borneo, Malaysia; and Mesilou Home Stay in Borneo, Malaysia.
By Megha Paul