Support Community Tourism, Make The Trek With Planeterra

Planeterra has launched its second annual Planeterra Trek Challenge, encouraging travel-lovers to work together to support a more equal recovery of tourism post-COVID, putting communities at the centre of their efforts.

Building on the success of last year’s trek to Everest Base Camp, which raised over CA$100,000 this year’s trek will take place virtually summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, between Sept. 23 to Sept. 27, culminating on World Tourism Day.

Planeterra will use the trek to highlight its community tourism partners across East Africa, all while challenging participants to walk approximately 52,500 steps (40km or 25 miles).

Tourism is recovering but the recovery is far from equal.

Some communities have been able to receive travellers safely, but others have not. Funds raised during this year’s trek challenge will assist Planeterra in mentoring and providing training for community tourism enterprises so they are ready to receive travellers again and feel confident with new protocols.

Bruce Poon Tip, founder and chairman of Planterra and founder of group travel operator G Adventures, has put together a team and recorded a video encouraging travel lovers, and those across the travel industry, to join this year’s virtual Kili Climb.

Poon Tip observes: “Last year, the Planeterra Trek Challenge created connections across the travel industry and amongst those who value a different kind of travel – one that puts communities at its heart. We want to highlight this incredible region, where travellers are currently safely visiting, while raising some much-needed funds to get community tourism back on track around the world.”

Throughout the month of September, Planeterra will be posting videos, blogs, and info, while hosting live events, highlighting the organization’s work in the region, as well as tips for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro and travelling to East Africa.

Evie Nhdlovu, Planeterra’s Program Manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said that: “The entire team has been working alongside our partners in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and others to curate a series of unique stories, videos, and information highlighting what it’s like to travel to the region. We’re excited to showcase this area of the continent to participants, and hopefully encourage them to plan their visit.”

To join the Planeterra Trek Challenge, hike on over to https://www.classy.org/event/the-planeterra-trek-challenge/e350298 .