Native Tours joins forces with leading non-profit Planeterra to strengthen community-based tourism in Peru

This week, community-based tour operator Native Tours joins forces with sustainable tourism non-profit Planeterra as a partner in the organization’s growing network of social enterprises committed to supporting local livelihoods through tourism in Peru and around the world.

Peru welcomed over 5.2 million visitors in 2019, however that source of economic stability saw a sharp decline with lockdowns and restrictions that came with the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. This disproportionately affected communities who rely heavily on the tourism sector for their livelihood. With tourism now slowly returning to the country, it is essential that there is equitable access to the financial capital that the industry provides. Together, Native Tours and Planeterra will help ensure local communities have the tools and resources they need to successfully engage in the tourism sector.

In addition to supporting Planeterra’s existing work in Peru and South America, this partnership will strengthen the capacity of Native Tours’ affiliate communities like Amaru and Paru Paru by connecting them to Planeterra’s community tourism network. This network, which functions as a peer-to-peer learning hub, aims to help equip local indigenous communities with tools for them to thrive as key players in the tourism sector.

“We are very excited about this partnership, as it allows a boutique operator like Native Tours the opportunity to amplify our impact in the indigenous communities we partner with” said Native Tours founder Karen Vergara. “We have been looking to help our destinations build back better after the pandemic and by leveraging Planeterra’s vast network in Peru we can encourage a greener supply chain.”

In the coming months, Native Tours also hopes to revitalize the demand for community-based tourism through collaborative activities that support Planeterra’s mission to uplift communities through tourism.

Native Tours will kick off their partnership this Giving Tuesday with the launch of their year-end fundraising campaign to support Planeterra’s community work in Peru and around the world. You can participate by making your donation here.

About Native Tours

Native Tours is a sustainable community-based tour operator offering authentic excursions that foster an appreciation for environmental and cultural conservation. We believe that responsible tourism can improve the lives of travelers as well as the people and places they visit, allowing the local communities to prosper while safeguarding the rich ancestral heritage that makes them so unique and attractive.

About Planeterra

Planeterra is the leading community tourism organization working to improve lives around the world. They work with local people to ensure they have the tools they need to prosper, the power to conserve their culture and environment, and the access they need to healthcare and education.