Small group adventure operator and community tourism pioneer, G Adventures, is developing 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 launch is 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,” Marceau added. “Using the network that USAID has already put into place, we will be building a series of new trips that are in line with G Adventures’ community tourism ethos: supporting small local businesses, using locally and community-owned accommodations, and supporting local community projects and social enterprises that make sure the trips we offer will benefit the people who live in the places we visit. Our goal is to take travelers deeper into the destination and spread the benefit of adventure travel across the region more broadly.”
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, where USAID Turizam will facilitate introductions with 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.
About G Adventures
Founded in 1990 by social entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures is a pioneer in community tourism and small group travel, offering more than 750 tours in 100 countries, on all seven continents. G Adventures’ award-winning trips support local communities, giving travelers meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, while offering them the freedom and flexibility to explore on their own. G Adventures’ responsible approach to travel is demonstrated through its ‘G for Good’ social impact commitments, which include travel guidelines for children, wildlife and Indigenous people, community-based Planeterra projects travelers can experience on their trips, and the industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’ assessment which measures how many traveler dollars stay in the local economy. G Adventures offers life-changing tours for people of all ages, interests and budgets, because our world deserves more you. For more information please visit www.gadventures.com
About the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council
Our mission is to drive collaboration and partnerships. The Council searches the planet for best in breed travel leaders, enterprises and associations across the public and private sectors. Our goal is simple, to support destinations and businesses in their strategic objectives and to minimize challenges yet maximize learnings while embedding a resilient culture. By working with governments across the world, this platform enables leaders, partners and the media to unite, speak, share and act collaboratively. The Resilience Council through its partnerships and with the full support of the Travel Weekly Group provides proactive, practical and sustainable solutions quickly and expertly supporting the sector in times of growth and challenge. For more information please visit resiliencecouncil.com
Contributing members are responsible for the accuracy of content contributed to the Member News section of AdventureTravelNews.
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