In an era where responsible tourism is imperative, collaboration between industry leaders is key to driving positive change. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce Planeterra has joined forces with Evaneos, the leading online marketplace for tailor-made tours, to advance fairer tourism globally.

Evaneos, a European leader in responsible tourism, has been at the forefront of creating authentic and responsible trips for travellers for over 15 years. Through its platform, Evaneos has built a trusted network of local agencies worldwide, ensuring that at least 85% of the amount of each trip goes directly to local actors. Evaneos is committed to going even further in promoting fair distribution of revenues in the tourism supply chain.

Harnessing the Power of Community Tourism

Community tourism lies at the heart of this partnership. By partnering with Planeterra, Evaneos aims to harness the power of community tourism as a force to break down barriers and promote social equity.

Together, we strive to make a meaningful impact on the destinations where Evaneos’ local partners operate, supporting communities while promoting a better way to travel.

This partnership isn’t just about financial support; it’s about creating lasting change.

Through grants, technical training, and mentorship, Evaneos and Planeterra are empowering communities to become self-sufficient and resilient. By integrating community tourism experiences into Evaneos’ offerings, travellers can engage with local cultures in meaningful ways, enriching their travel experiences while supporting community development.

Planeterra and Evaneos are kicking off this partnership by supporting the development of three community tourism enterprises in 2024. These initiatives empower women, preserve cultural heritage, and foster economic and social growth within local communities, showcasing the immense potential of community tourism. 

Urpis de Antaquillka Association

📍Cuper Bajo Community, Chinchero District, Cusco Region, Peru

Urpis de Antaquillka is a community association formed by 23 women. They ventured into tourism to gain recognition for their handicrafts and generate direct economic income for their families.

Through their experiences, this female-led association aims to share ancestral knowledge with those seeking genuine experiences.

From immersive weaving sessions with local women to water ceremonies, traditional cooking classes, and unforgettable llama hikes in the Andes, Urpis de Antaquillka offers a rich tapestry of cultural immersion.

In collaboration with Evaneos, we are focusing on three experiences: the Water Ceremony, Llama Hiking, and a meal experience where travellers learn about a traditional Peruvian dish, the Pachamanca.

Our support involves helping Urpis de Antaquillka improve its current tourism experiences and upgrade its facilities and infrastructure, including enhancing the llama hiking paths, kitchen facilities, experience development, and providing training and capacity building to ensure the success of their tourism enterprise.

The goal is for the community to attract more travellers and create a dependable income stream to sustain their community tourism enterprise.

PKP Community Centre

📍Bali, Indonesia

PKP Community Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering female empowerment and gender equality among vulnerable Balinese women and local girls. Through various initiatives, the center offers programs focused on teaching essential skills like sewing, cooking, yoga, and community integration.

In addition to providing economic independence and vocational training skills to women and youth, they also offer emotional and psychological guidance to women who have faced economic, emotional, physical, and social hardships, enabling them to lead a life of dignity.

Women associated with PKP can now support their children’s education, empowering the entire village by redirecting additional funds toward education and nutrition

Travellers are invited to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture through activities such as food exploration, prayer offering classes, gardening, and craftsmanship workshops.

Through our partnership with Evaneos, we aim to support the PKP community team members in upgrading their existing catering tourism infrastructure, including enhancing the walking path around the garden to make it wheelchair-friendly and accessible for everyone. We’ll also provide training on the technical aspects of running a successful tourism enterprise.

With this support, the women will attract more travellers and establish a steady source of income to sustain their catering and other initiatives.

Razafindrabe

📍Antananarivo, Madagascar

Due to low levels of education in Madagascar, many women lack the skills to apply for formal jobs to support themselves and their children. Razafindrabe was founded to address this issue. This women-led social enterprise is on a mission to create sustainable livelihoods for women by promoting traditional Malagasy Raffia craftsmanship.

They strive to empower women economically and socially through craft-making while also preserving Madagascar’s cultural heritage. Thanks to Razafindrabe, many women who have had no previous formal education can now use their natural talents to create unique handicrafts and learn different entrepreneurial skills.

Like many tourism enterprises, the pandemic led to a decline in visitors, resulting in a slow recovery. Consequently, their sole source of income currently comes from online purchases.

Together with Evaneos, we want to assist the women of Razafindrabe in bridging the gap between virtual sales and direct interaction with travellers by creating different experiences, such as a cooking class to learn about traditional methods of cooking Malagasy food, as well as a hands-on raffia making experience.

As a result, we aim to help Razafindrabe diversify its income, foster cultural exchange, and empower the women artisans involved. This will also lead to opportunities for their own education and that of their children, enable infrastructure upgrades and offer financial freedom.

Join Us in Making a Difference

As Planeterra and Evaneos embark on this journey, we invite travellers and industry partners alike to join us in making a difference. Whether it’s choosing community tourism experiences for your next adventure or supporting our initiatives, together, we can create a more equitable and sustainable tourism industry that benefits communities around the globe. 

Follow Evaneos and Planeterra to keep up with the latest news on this amazing partnership and the stories of the communities involved. And don’t forget to book your next trip with Evaneos to keep the impact growing!