American World Traveler Summer 2017 Issue

travellers a unique experience. The
two-hour ride embraces the island’s
motto of ‘go slow’ and highlights the
area’s idyllic nature, history, and culture.
G Adventures Adds Five New Social Enterprise Projects to its Tours 21
New meal, wheel, and homestay experiences that give back in 2017
Leading small-group adventure operator
G Adventures announces new
sustainable travel experiences in
Belize, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Nepal
for 2017, empowering travellers to support
local communities while offering them a truly
local experience.
The five new social enterprise projects
include a guided bike tour on Caye Caulker,
Belize, local meals at restaurants in Playa del
Carmen, Mexico and Nakuru, Kenya, and
homestays near Chitwan National Park in
Nepal, and inside Bromo-Tengger-Semeru
National Park in Java, Indonesia.
The initiatives, known as G Adventures for
Good projects, aim to support women,
indigenous communities and at-risk youth,
while offering travellers immersive experiences
in culturally unique parts of the world.
G Adventures’ founder, Bruce Poon Tip
believes travel and tourism can be a force for
good in developing nations where tourism is
one of the most important means of income.
“When we travel the right way, with likeminded
people who care about making a
positive impact on the places they travel to,
Photos this page: G Adventures
we can do a world of good. Our new projects
are examples of the sharing economy
our world needs, and the sharing economy
I want to see thrive.
“The United Nations has designated 2017
as its Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Development, and with increased awareness
I believe tourism can be the biggest
form of wealth distribution the world has
seen,” says Poon Tip.
The five new experiences join G
Adventures’ list of 31 projects around the
world and are part of its commitment to
launch 50 new projects by 2020 – 10 per
year – also known as its “50 in 5” campaign.
More details on the projects and
how travellers can experience them follow:
Bike with Purpose - Caye Caulker,
Belize - On Caye Caulker, children often
drop out from school by age 12. G
Adventures sends 4,000 travellers a year to
the island, and by taking a Bike with
Purpose tour, travellers give students from
the Ocean Academy (the island’s only
community high school) the opportunity to
practice their guiding skills while offering
El Hongo Community Restaurant -
Playa del Carmen, Mexico - Playa del
Carmen has become built-up by mass
tourism and this project takes travellers to
see ‘the other side’ with a home-style meal
at volunteer-run restaurant El Hongo. G
Adventures groups enjoy a meal at the
restaurant and tour the neighbourhood,
learning about the vivid street art the kids
created with support from this social enterprise.
Unbutu Training Cafe - Maai Mahiu,
Kenya - This training café empowers communities
and creates jobs along the only
route to the Maasai Mara. Travellers enjoy a
delicious lunch sourced from local organic
farms. The café also provides a market for
marginalised women to learn to make, and
sell handicrafts as meaningful souvenirs.
Proceeds from the businesses help support
the nearby Ubuntu School, which serves
children with special needs by providing
therapy, education, and vocational training.
Barauli Community Homestay -
Chitwan National Park, Nepal - G
Adventures travellers visit the Barauli
Community Homestay while they are in the
Chitwan region, learning about the traditions
of the Tharu people. Over 1,500 travellers
visit this region annually, bringing sustainable
tourism revenue for the community.
The homestay project aims to diversify the
income of women in the region.
Tengger Community Homestay - Java,
Indonesia - G Adventures travellers to stay
in a traditional home inside Bromo-Tengger-
Semeru National Park and enjoy day trips as
part of a community developed hike. The
new homestays will be fully owned and
managed by the Tengger tribe and allow for
older residents to diversify their income,
while creating jobs for the next generation.
Select tours that will empower travellers to
contribute to this community’s well-being.
www.gadventures.com
American World Traveler Summer 2017