G Adventures to give Bosnia and Herzegovina community tourism a boost
February 12, 2024 – Small group adventure operator and community tourism pioneer, G Adventures, will soon be offering an extended program of trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina that are designed to support local communities, while showcasing the Balkan nation’s distinctive culture, nature and heritage.
The new trips are launching as the result of a collaboration between the U.S. Government’s USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID Turizam) initiative, the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council (GTTRC), and G Adventures.
Yves Marceau, VP of product for G Adventures, welcomed the partnership and opportunity to expand the operator’s trip offerings in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Balkans is a special part of the world that is growing in popularity as people move beyond traditional European destinations. As more travellers start to visit, it’s important that tourism develops the right way – a way that supports local people and communities. Travel is a two-way exchange, and we’re excited to introduce our new trips in 2025.
“This collaboration is a powerful example of how rural and local communities that are not on the main tourism route can benefit when governments, NGOs and private social enterprises work together to do the right thing,” says Marceau.
Karl Wurster, Director of the Economic Development Office at USAID/BiH says the success of this collaboration will serve as a model for tourism development, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but worldwide.
“We are pleased to launch our collaboration with G Adventures, a company that takes travelers from around the world to more than 100 countries. What’s most impressive is G Adventures’ commitment to community tourism, which will ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism development in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says Wurster.
As part of the new partnership, representatives from G Adventures will be visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore new destinations, services and experiences to expand existing itineraries and introduce new and extended trips. Here, USAID Turizam will introduce G Adventures to suppliers and service providers to discuss ideas for future on-trip experiences
USAID Turizam and G Adventures will also collaborate on international media familiarization trips to help increase interest in the country and the new program.
GTTRC will be presenting this collaboration at its events as an example of a positive model for sustainable tourism development.
“Over the past few years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been celebrated among the burgeoning sustainable destinations during our conferences and events, and we are pleased to drive yet another partnership that showcases the power of tourism in the development of sustainable community tourism”, says Laurie Myers, global strategist for the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council.
Ibrahim Osta, USAID Turizam’s Senior Destination Development Advisor, who designed this collaboration with GTTRC and G Adventures, underscored that the partnership is a testament to the power of sustainability and responsible business conduct for a thriving tourism sector underpinned by a people-centric approach.
For more information on G Adventures, please visit www.gadventures.com.