TORONTO — Planeterra is turning 20 this year, and is celebrating with a new campaign to raise funds in support of the next 20 years of community impact.

Since its inception in 2003 by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, Planeterra – a leading non-profit that uses tourism to uplift communities – has invested millions of dollars in community tourism enterprises that protect cultural heritage and natural resources.

Now, in its 20th year, it has set its sights on raising $500,000 as part of a new campaign that launched last month with support from G Adventures, which took the lead as the first group to commit to raising $20,000. The tour operator achieved its goal in less than a week and went on to raise a total of $100,000 in support of Planeterra’s mission.

Funds raised through the campaign will be directed towards supporting Planeterra’s global initiatives, including the growth of the Global Community Tourism Network, investments in community tourism enterprise development, and efforts to address the pressing climate and biodiversity crises. 

“Planeterra’s 20th anniversary is a testament to the incredible impact we have made in uplifting communities worldwide through tourism,” said Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra. “It is fitting that the staff at G Adventures were the first contributors to our campaign. They have been supporters of our mission from the very beginning, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past two decades and creating lasting change worldwide.”

Planeterra’s 20th-anniversary celebration will culminate in the first-ever World Community Tourism Summit, scheduled to take place on Sept. 27 in Peru, the birthplace of Planeterra’s inaugural community tourism enterprise. The summit will gather tourism industry leaders, media professionals, passionate travellers, and innovative thinkers to experience the transformative power of community tourism firsthand.

For more information email info@planeterra.org or go to www.planeterra.org.