At the end of 2021, community-based tour operator Native Tours joined forces with international non-profit Planeterra as a partner in the organization’s growing network of social enterprises committed to supporting local livelihoods through tourism in Peru and around the world.
PERU - January 27th, 2022 – At the end of 2021, community-based tour operator Native Tours joined forces with international non-profit Planeterra as a partner in the organization’s growing network of social enterprises committed to supporting local livelihoods through tourism in Peru and around the world.
The next step in the partnership, Native Tours will be visiting their community partner, Amaru, next month to conduct a needs assessment. The results will be reviewed with Planeterra to determine the areas to focus support for 2022.
Peru welcomed over 5.2 million visitors in 2019, however that source of economic stability saw a sharp decline with lockdowns and restrictions that came with the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. This disproportionately affected communities that rely heavily on the tourism sector for their livelihood. With tourism now slowly returning to the country, it is essential that there is equitable access to the financial capital that the industry provides. Together, Native Tours and Planeterra will help ensure local communities have the tools and resources they need to successfully engage in the tourism sector.
In addition to supporting Planeterra’s existing work in Peru and South America, this partnership will strengthen the capacity of Native Tours’ affiliate communities, like Amaru, by connecting them to Planeterra’s community tourism network. This network, which functions as a peer-to-peer learning hub, aims to help equip local Indigenous communities with tools for them to thrive as key players in the tourism sector.
"Travel is a valuable experience but not everyone benefits equally. Planeterra is committed to providing training, mentorship, and resources to community tourism enterprises in order to provide jobs and income for women, Indigenous communities, and youth," said Rhea Simms, Director of Global Programs. "We're excited to provide this assistance to more communities in Peru through our partnership with Native Tours."
“We are very excited about this partnership, as it allows a boutique operator like Native Tours the opportunity to amplify our impact in the Indigenous communities we partner with” said Native Tours founder Karen Vergara. “We have been looking to help our destinations build back better after the pandemic and by leveraging Planeterra’s vast network in Peru we can encourage a greener supply chain.”
In the coming months, Native Tours also hopes to revitalize the demand for community-based tourism through collaborative activities that support Planeterra’s mission to uplift communities through tourism.
Native Tours is a sustainable community-based tour operator offering excursions that foster an appreciation for environmental and cultural conservation.
Planeterra is committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra is an independent, non-profit organization and registered U.S. charity using community tourism to tackle poverty.
About The Author
Karen Lake - Senior Contributor
Karen is a senior contributor at TravelIndustryReporter.com and brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the travel industry. Karen is a native of the USA and has held various media and PR positions over the last 10 years. Karen is a graduate of Washington State University.