A new report has revealed that community tourism generated more than $3 million for local enterprises and reached 254,941 people last year.
The statistics are contained within the 2025 Impact Report from Planeterra, the leading non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting communities through tourism.
Community tourism initiatives supported by Planeterra contributed to local income generation, climate action and expanded market access through partnerships across the travel industry.
In 2025, work carried out alongside Community Partners, Travel Partners, donors, supporters, and the Planeterra team contributed to:
- 568 organisations in the Planeterra Community Tourism Network.
- 276 Community Tourism Enterprises connected to travel companies.
- 124,717 traveller visits to Community Tourism Enterprises.
- $CAD3.32 million ($AU3.39m) in revenue earned by communities through Planeterra’s Travel Partners.
- 254,941 people positively impacted through community tourism and climate initiatives.
- 2,063,583 trees planted and growing through community-led climate and biodiversity initiatives.
“Tourism is a multi-trillion-dollar industry, yet many of the communities that make travel possible still do not fully benefit from it. Planeterra is working to change that,” said Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra.
The report includes examples from across Planeterra’s global network, including:
- Ecuador, where Quichua Native Travel (main image) supports Kichwa communities through locally led cultural experiences, with tourism income helping support women-led businesses, household income, school supplies and community infrastructure.
- Rwanda, where Nyamirambo Women’s Center uses Community Tourism to support women’s income generation, skills development and access to health coverage.
- Greece, where Naxos Wildlife Protection connects travellers to wildlife conservation education while tourism income supports sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and environmental awareness (above).
- Vietnam, where support from the Planeterra Community Tourism Fund helped Catalyst for Change Vietnam launch Her Kitchen: Wellness Culinary Journeys, creating livelihood opportunities for single mothers through culinary tourism, business training and mentorship.
“Community Tourism is not a side story to travel. It is one of the ways communities are creating livelihoods, protecting culture and biodiversity, and shaping tourism in ways that reflect what matters most to them,” added Mr Sweeting.
https://planeterra.org/impact/
