The World Community Tourism Summit by G Adventures in Jaipur extensively highlighted the power of community tourism.
- Nearly 500 travel industry professionals gathered for the event, coinciding with World Tourism Day on September 27.
- Distinguished speakers like Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler contributed to discussions on economic empowerment and climate impact.
- Planeterra reported significant progress in community tourism projects and tree planting initiatives since last year’s summit.
- The next summit, to be held in Jordan, promises to be an even larger celebration of G Adventures’ long-term commitments.
The second World Community Tourism Summit organised by G Adventures showcased the potential of community-driven tourism in transforming lives. With close to 500 industry professionals gathering in Jaipur, India, the event coincided with World Tourism Day on September 27, further emphasising the global focus on sustainable tourism practices.
High-profile speakers, including Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet, and Planeterra representatives, discussed various topics. Key issues such as the economic empowerment of women in India through tourism and the global impact of climate change on vulnerable communities were explored. A significant announcement made during the summit was the integration of 13 new community tourism enterprises into G Adventures trips over the past year, bringing the total to 130 projects.
Planeterra’s president, Jamie Sweeting, updated attendees on the success of ongoing projects like ‘Project 300’ and ‘Trees for Days’. The latter initiative involves planting a tree for each day a traveller spends on a G Adventures trip, aiming for over three million trees by the end of 2024. Sweeting stated, ‘If you plant the right kind of tree with the right kind of people in the right kind of place, it can be absolutely extraordinary.’ Since its inception, 18 community tree projects have been nurtured, benefitting over 40,000 community members in 14 countries.
Attendees also reflected on the transformative nature of the event, with Poon Tip noting how guests interacted with numerous community projects and individuals, gaining firsthand insights into the positive impacts of tourism.
Future plans were also unveiled, outlining that next year’s summit will be hosted in Jordan in September 2025, marking G Adventures’ 35th anniversary with an even larger gathering.
The World Community Tourism Summit in Jaipur successfully showcased the transformative power of community tourism, setting the stage for future innovations.
