The collaboration aims to integrate and fund community travel experiences across Evaneos’ extensive network of independent local travel agencies, promoting authentic and responsible travel.
PARIS – Disappear and The planet announce their partnership dedicated to promoting fairer tourism worldwide.
To begin with, Evaneos and Planeterra work with three community tourism enterprises, one in Africa (Madagascar), one in Asia (Indonesia) and one in Latin America (Peru). Evaneos’ support includes grants to improve tourism facilities, technical training and long-term mentoring through Planeterra, and finally market connectivity through the integration of personalized experiences into the Evaneos offer. In parallel, Evaneos will integrate at least 50 already existing community tourism enterprises into its offer before 2025.
To launch the partnership, Evaneos is investing €300,000 in 2024 with plans for continued scaling and funding in the future. Aurelie Sandlerco-CEO of Evaneos, will join Planeterra’s board of directors, reflecting a shared commitment to empowering local communities.
Razafindrabe, Madagascar.
Aurélie Sandler, co-CEO of Evaneos, says: “We are extremely proud to announce this partnership with Planeterra, which will ensure that the revenue and benefits generated by the tourism industry stay in the communities that tourists visit. At the same time, the partnership aims to cultivate enriching and meaningful experiences for passengers, which has been our goal for the past 15 years.”
An obvious shared vision that led to a long-term partnership
Evaneos is the European leader in a more responsible approach to tourism. Through its platform, Evaneos has built over 15 years a trusted network of local agencies around the world to create authentic, more responsible travel for European travelers. Evaneos is constantly working to solve the biggest challenges facing the industry, especially the fair distribution of revenue in the tourism supply chain. With Evaneos, at least 85% of the proceeds of each trip go directly to local actors, but they want to go further.
By partnering with Planeterra, Evaneos aims to harness the power of community tourism as a force to regenerate destinations and promote social equality.
Urpis de Antaquillka, team of the association.
“This partnership with Evaneos allows Planeterra to advance our mission of using tourism to uplift communities around the world. Together, we aim to make a meaningful impact in the destinations where Evaneos’ local partners operate, supporting communities while promoting a better way to travel.” explains Jamie Sweetingpresident of Planeterra.
Community-based tourism enterprises as drivers of industry change
The partnership with Planeterra focuses on community-owned and community-led tourism enterprises with the goal of breaking down barriers and engaging communities in meaningful, life-changing ways. This approach supports communities in achieving their own diverse goals, from cultural preservation to environmental sustainability and socio-economic development. To launch the partnership, Evaneos and Planeterra will support the development of three community tourism enterprises in 2024. These initiatives empower women, preserve cultural heritage and promote economic and social growth within local communities, demonstrating the transformative potential of community tourism:
- In Peru, Evaneos and Planeterra support the development of Urpis de Antaquillka, a community association nestled in the Chinchero region that shares ancestral knowledge with travelers seeking authentic experiences. From fascinating weaving experiences with local women to water ceremonies, traditional cooking classes and unforgettable llama treks in the Andes, Urpis de Antaquillka offers a rich tapestry of cultural immersion. This association directly employs 22 Indigenous women and indirectly benefits 60 other community members.
- In Bali, Indonesia, Evaneos and Planeterra will support the development of the PKP Community Centre, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality among vulnerable Balinese women and local girls. Through various initiatives, the center offers programs focused on teaching basic skills such as sewing, cooking, yoga and community integration. Travelers are invited to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture through activities such as food exploration, prayer offering classes, gardening and craft workshops. Today, 30 women directly benefit from the program, while over 100 people benefit indirectly through community outreach efforts. The economic benefits of these activities also contribute to initiatives to support children’s education and nutrition.
- Razafindrabe in Madagascar is a women-led social enterprise with a mission to create sustainable livelihoods for women by promoting the traditional craftsmanship of Madagascar raffia. Their vision is to empower women economically and socially through craft making while preserving Madagascar’s cultural heritage. Through this initiative, many women with limited access to education can use their natural talents to create unique crafts as well as learn various entrepreneurial skills. Today, more than 100 women benefit directly from the program, while over 1,200 community members benefit indirectly, with increased access to education and the creation of a social bank system.
Vicki co-founded the TravelDailyNews Media Network, where she Editor. She is also responsible for day-to-day operations and financial policy. She holds a BA in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and an MBA from the University of Wales.
She has many years of academic and industrial experience in the tourism industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
