Planeterra’s Report Highlights the Transformative Power of Community Tourism – For Travellers and Communities Alike

The Annual Impact Report shows how travel fuels local economies and helps preserve culture through immersive community tourism experiences.

 

Toronto – July 24, 2025 – Planeterra, the leading non-profit dedicated to uplifting communities through tourism, has released its 2024 Impact Report, demonstrating the immense power of travel to fuel local economies and preserve cultural traditions worldwide. The report unveils that communities earned CAD $2,896,802 (USD $2,119,344) from Planeterra’s travel company partners in 2024, directly benefiting over 30,000 people across 51 countries.

 

The report dives deep into how community tourism isn’t just about visiting a destination, but about creating meaningful, equitable encounters for everyone involved. It highlights powerful data and inspiring stories from community tourism enterprises led by women, youth, and Indigenous communities, showcasing how these initiatives are meeting critical local goals—from boosting incomes and creating jobs to protecting the environment and celebrating unique cultural heritage.

 

Key highlights from the 2024 Impact Report include:

• Direct Economic Empowerment: Communities earned CAD $2,896,802 directly from Planeterra Travel Partners.
• Widespread Benefit: 30,694 people directly benefited from tourism through Planeterra-supported initiatives, with over 191,764 people receiving indirect benefits.
• Traveller Engagement: 133,340 travellers visited experiences supported by Planeterra’s travel company partners, indicating a strong demand for responsible and genuine travel.
• Nature-Positive Investments: Bolstering climate and biodiversity, Planeterra and its partners have grown 2,650,000 trees, fostering a nature-positive community tourism approach.

 

“This report isn’t just a collection of numbers; it’s a testament to the transformative power of community tourism,” says Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra. “It unequivocally shows that when travellers choose to engage with local communities, they’re not just taking a trip – they’re contributing to a more sustainable, equitable, and enriching future for all.”

 

The full 2024 Impact Report offers invaluable insights for travel companies, donors, media, and anyone interested in how tourism can be a powerful force for good. Download the full report here: planeterra.org/impact/

 

About Planeterra

Planeterra is the world’s leading nonprofit using tourism to uplift communities. Planeterra helps local organizations and communities use tourism as a catalyst to improve people’s lives, protect their natural environments, and celebrate their culture. Put simply, it is a better kind of tourism – improving the lives of community members as they provide travellers with better experiences. Planeterra is more than just an agent of change and driver of communal well-being, they are tested and trusted relationship builders uplifting communities through tourism. For more information please visit www.planeterra.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.