Their association seeks to promote a fairer way of traveling with local communities in these countries. So far this year, nearly US$320,000 has been invested.
The responsible tourism platform Evaneos and the non-profit organization dedicated to promoting community tourism, Planeterra, have announced that they will collaborate to promote a fairer way of traveling with local communities. As a result of this association, they will train and finance community tourism projects
In 2024, Evaneos and Planeterra will work with three community-based tourism companies, in Madagascar, Indonesia and Peru. Evaneos support includes funding to improve local tourism facilities, technical training and long-term mentoring.
Evaneos has invested US$319,671 so far in 2024, with plans to increase the amount in the future. For its part, Planeterra will execute the projects on the ground and coordinate them together with local communities.
Local companies participating in these programs will become part of Evaneos' independent agent offering, giving them access to the global market. Additionally, Evaneos has committed to integrating at least 50 community tourism companies, which are already in its catalog, before 2025.
"We are proud to announce this agreement with Planeterra, which will ensure that the revenue and profits generated by the tourism industry remain within the communities that travelers visit," explains Aurélie Sandler, co-CEO of Evaneos.
COMMUNITY TOURISM AS A DRIVER OF CHANGE
These community tourism projects are initiatives that empower local women, preserve cultural heritage and foster economic and social growth within communities, showing the transformative potential of responsible tourism.
In Peru, they are supporting the development of Urpis de Antaquillka, a community association located in the Chinchero region, which shares ancestral knowledge with travelers seeking genuine experiences.
From learning to weave with local women to water ceremonies, traditional cooking classes or unforgettable llama hikes in the Andes, Urpis de Antaquillka offers a rich variety of cultural immersion options. This project directly employs 22 indigenous women and indirectly benefits another 60 community members.
In Bali, Indonesia, they will support the PKP Community Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting female empowerment and gender equality among vulnerable Balinese women and local girls.
Through various initiatives, the center offers programs such as sewing, cooking, yoga and community integration. Travelers are invited to immerse themselves in local culture through activities such as dining experiences, prayer offering classes, gardening, and craft workshops.
Currently, 30 women benefit directly from the project, and more than 100 people benefit indirectly through community outreach. Profits from these activities contribute to children's educational programs and nutritional support initiatives.
Founded in 2012, Razafindrabe in Madagascar is a women-led social enterprise with a mission to create sustainable livelihoods for women by promoting traditional Malagasy raffia crafts, while preserving the cultural heritage of Madagascar.
Through this initiative, many women with difficult access to education can use their natural talents to create unique crafts and learn different business skills. More than 100 women benefit directly from the program, while more than 1,200 community members benefit indirectly, as greater access to education has been promoted and a social bank has been created.
FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
Evaneos's mission is to solve the biggest challenges facing the tourism sector, especially the fair distribution of income in the supply chain, that is, how much those who work in the destinations earn compared to what the traveler pays. . That is why it guarantees that at least 85% of the total of each trip is allocated to workers at the destination.
By partnering with Planeterra, Evaneos wants to go even further by incorporating community-based tourism and supporting and integrating businesses that are owned or led by the local community.
Planeterra's approach is to support communities to achieve different objectives, from cultural preservation to environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development.
"This partnership allows us to advance our mission of using tourism to boost local communities around the world. Together we will be able to have a greater impact in the destinations where Evaneos local agents operate, supporting communities while promoting another way to travel," explains Jamie Sweeting, president of Planeterra.
