How We Work

Community Tourism Works Best When Communities Have Agency

Communities know their cultures, priorities, and aspirations better than anyone. Our role isn’t to build tourism for communities, but to work alongside them, strengthening Community Tourism Enterprises, connecting them to opportunity, and creating the conditions for long-term success. When communities lead, the benefits reach further.

Every community is different, so rather than applying the same solution everywhere, we adapt our support to each community’s goals, strengths, and stage of development. Our work focuses on three connected areas.

UPLIFT

We strengthen Community Tourism Enterprises.

Successful tourism takes more than visitors. We help communities build stronger enterprises through training, mentoring, business support, funding opportunities, and a wide network of peers, so they can keep creating local opportunity long into the future.

CONNECT

We connect communities
to opportunity.

Tourism creates lasting value for communities when they can access visitors and tourism markets. We connect Community Tourism Enterprises with travel companies, destinations, and responsible tourism partners, helping create demand for community-led experiences and more sustainable local income.

GROW

We grow community-led solutions
for people and nature.

Through Planeterra Grow, communities develop regenerative tourism that restores ecosystems, protects biodiversity, strengthens climate resilience, and creates new opportunities connected to nature.

“We have increased income from welcoming tours. Our staff upgraded their skills in working with foreigners. The organization is proactive in welcoming tours.””

Pawarut Rungarunsunthon, PR Officer – Yimsoo Farms (Planeterra Community Partner in Thailand)
“Hosting travellers creates more regular opportunities for our staff and stitchers to earn an income through their work. This income helps them support their families, cover everyday expenses, and pay for things like their children’s education.”

Brenda Waweru, Deputy Director – Amani ya Juu (Planeterra Community Partner in Kenya)
“In the low (rainy) season, December- March, life is very difficult. There is no income from tourism, it is the time to plant crops so whatever reserves people have is used to plant, hoping the rain season will be good. With the reserves planted people have little stock left toe at themselves or to sell to make money. Many hotels are closed, and apart from civil servants only few people earn money. During this difficult part of the year Soa Zara plants trees on large scale with Planeterra. Allowing some 60 people to have a full or part time job and earn a living. It means that with our staff spending money in the village, the local economy keeps turning. Since our partnership with Planeterra we have been able to employ more staff. Apart from the economic side, locals have started to realize the importance of planting trees as an anti erosive measure.”

Jacob Ter Veen – Association Soa Zara (Planeterra Community Partner in Madagascar))

What it Looks Like

Every partnership is different. Depending on the community, our support may includes:

Experience & product development
Business mentoring
Hospitality training
Marketing and storytelling
Market access
Small grants
Infrastructure support
Environmental planning
Peer learning through the Planeterra Community Tourism Network

Who We Support

We partner with organizations that are already creating positive change in their communities, including:

Social enterprises
Non-profit organizations
Indigenous organizations
Community organizations
Women’s associations
Youth organizations
Cooperatives
Environmental organizations

Together, we’re building a stronger Planet-wide Community Tourism ecosystem.

Community Tourism looks different everywhere

There isn’t one model. Every experience reflects the community that created it, from community-owned accommodation and food experiences to guided cultural and nature tours, transportation, artisan workshops, performing arts, farming, and conservation. Each one is designed, owned, and led by the community itself.

Our Model

Community vision drives the work. Planeterra provides support, tourism partnerships create market access, and travellers bring demand. Income stays local, and communities decide how to reinvest it where it matters most.

That might mean supporting women’s employment, youth opportunities, education, cultural preservation, conservation, or new local businesses.

Communities decide.

Why This Approach Works

We believe lasting impact comes from partnership, not projects. Our work is guided by four principles:

COMMUNITY-LED:

Communities define their priorities, experiences, and future.

LONG-TERM:

We build partnerships designed to last beyond a single project or funding cycle.

COLLABORATIVE:

We bring together communities, travel companies, destinations, governments, donors, and travellers, because meaningful change happens together.

IMPACT-DRIVEN:

Success isn’t measured by visitor numbers alone. It’s measured by stronger livelihoods, thriving cultures, healthier ecosystems, and communities with greater control over their own future.

WORK WITH US

Together we can make tourism work better for communities

Planeterra works with travel companies across the tourism value chain to connect Community Tourism Enterprises with travellers, strengthen tourism experiences, and create opportunities for communities to benefit from tourism.

PARTNER WITH US