Travellers choosing responsible tourism, and the travel agents selling it, have made a massive difference to communities worldwide, shows Planeterra’s 2025 Impact Report which reveals that 254,941 people positively impacted through community tourism and climate initiatives last year.
Communities earned USD2.38 million in revenue through Planeterra’s Travel Partners, and there were 124,717 traveller visits to Community Tourism partners, shows the report.
The earth received a boost too, with more than two million trees planted and growing through community-led climate and biodiversity initiatives.
Also notable about 2025’s report was that 79% of communities reported greater access to education because of community tourism, while 71% reported an increased ability to provide adequate food and transportation. At the same time 77% reported increasing gender equality and 80% saw increased participation in and protection of culture and traditions, including a 70% increase in youth participation.
Some 63% stated that because of community tourism they were better able to access healthcare and provide adequate housing for themselves and their families.
Planeterra president Jamie Sweeting says community tourism is not a side story to travel. “It is one of the ways communities are creating livelihoods, protecting culture and biodiversity, and shaping tourism in ways that reflect what matters most to them.”
. . . Industry
Collectively, the report highlights that Planeterra’s travel partners supported 84 new communities at different stages of integration into tourism offerings, with this including 52 communities supported through connections with G Adventures. Its list of travel partners expanded too, with the addition of easyJet holidays, DERTOUR Foundation, and TruTravels. “It’s encouraging to see community tourism becoming more central to how the industry is thinking about travel,” says Sweeting.
Agents can support Planeterra by selling experiences via travel partners. This includes founding partner G Adventures, as well as Evaneos, Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, and G Touring. See the full report HERE.
