G Adventures sets up funds for guides and overseas projects

The operator said it was responding “to an overwhelming number of requests from travellers” to help those they had encountered while abroad.

The CEO Wellbeing Fund is for chief experience officers, or tour guides, plus workers such as porters and cooks. The fund is for those may need financial support “following an accident, natural disaster, or through illness or difficult circumstances”.

Separately, the Porters Support Fund has been established specifically for Inca Trail porters, cooks and horsemen

unable to work due to the effects of Covid-19.

“These men and women are an essential part of every Sacred Valley trek and many live in remote villages that are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of tourism. This fund gives past travellers who have hiked the Inca Trail, Lares Trek, Salkantay Trail or Choquequirao Trek the opportunity to give back to the amazing team that makes these trips possible,” G Adventures said.

Additionally, the Planeterra Impact Fund has been created to help people at 85 existing projects in more than 50 countries that rely on travellers visiting to earn an income.

Bruce Poon Tip, the founder of G Adventures, is matching the first $50,000 of donations to both the CEO Wellbeing and Planeterra Impact Funds, and said he was humbled by the outpouring of concern and compassion from travellers.

“I’ve had hundreds, if not thousands, of letters asking me how to help. This is what makes our community of travellers different - we transcend travel when our collective humanity extends support during difficult times.

“These funds all have been launched to answer requests to help people in need. It is one of the most heart-warming movements I’ve witnessed in my 30 years of building G Adventures as a leader in social enterprise and community tourism.”