G Adventures to host “first of its kind” community tourism summit in Peru this Sept.

A massive community tourism summit hosted by G Adventures is happening this September and it will all unfold in Peru.

The inaugural “GX” summit, which G is calling “a travel convention unlike any the world has seen before,” will welcome travel advisors, suppliers, media and travellers from around the globe to experience firsthand what an incredible impact community tourism can have on a destination.

The multi-day, mega-event runs from Sept. 22-28, 2023, and each group will have its own dedicated itinerary.

The event will culminate with the first World Community Tourism Summit, to be hosted on World Tourism Day, Sept. 27, 2023.

This day will feature a line-up of inspiring speakers and entertainment, which will soon be announced, G Adventures says.

GX will support G Adventures’ non-profit partner, Planeterra, and its placement in Peru is strategic as it will help support the country, which has struggled with its return to pre-pandemic tourism numbers due to recent civil unrest.

READ MORE: G Adventures’ Change Makers agent incentive returns for 2023

Planeterra will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at the event, and G Adventures will recognize its belated 30th anniversary, which was postponed three years by the pandemic.

GX will be invitation-only, but agents have a chance to be in attendance as it is also being announced that the 2023 Change Makers event, revealed last month, will be hosted as part of GX.

Here, 65 agents who have played their role in changing lives through travel will be brought together from different regions.

"First of its kind"

Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, said GX will be an event unlike any the travel industry has seen before – a feel-good celebration that has the potential to drive change and make a huge difference to the lives of local people through its concurrent fundraising efforts for Planeterra’s 20th anniversary.

“We’ve thrown lots of great parties and events in our 33 years of operation, but this will be the biggest yet,” Poon Tip said in a statement. “With Planeterra's 20th and our 30th anniversaries, it needs to be something special and never-done before. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to recognizing 20 years of Planeterra and the great work that has been done, and to help raise money to continue the great work they are doing to change lives in the communities we visit.”

“There's no better way to show our travel community first-hand how tourism has the power to drive positive change than through experience. We’ve been showcasing the beautiful concept of community tourism to our travellers for years, but wanted to open it up to the industry to experience as well.”

“In true G Adventures style, we’re continuing to innovate with GX which will be a groundbreaking event in travel - it really will be the first of its kind.”  

Change Makers is live now and runs until June 30, 2023. 

The campaign incentivizes travel advisors to focus on changing people's lives through travel by booking G Adventures trips.

Agents who successfully earn a place at Change Makers will see firsthand how their work directly impacts local communities in the destinations G Adventures takes its travellers to. 

For more info, agents can visit here and log into Sherpa, or speak to their regional global purpose specialist.

More details on GX and the World Community Tourism Day will be revealed in the coming weeks.

For more on GX, click here. 

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