Planeterra: Why Nature Positive Tourism Starts With Empowering Communities

At MOYO Training Foundation, our mission is clear: to transform the tourism industry into a ‘Nature Positive’ force. We believe that travel, when done right, can be a powerful catalyst for good, benefiting both people and the planet. 

That's why we were thrilled to sit down with Selene Orellana, Communications Lead for Planeterra, the world’s leading non-profit turning travel into impact for communities. Their dedication to uplifting communities, celebrating cultural diversity, and protecting natural environments perfectly mirrors our own aspirations.

Selene shared Planeterra's inspiring vision and how their unique approach is shaping a more responsible tourism landscape.

Planeterra Supported Project, Mi Cafecito, in Costa Rica ©Planeterra

Planeterra's Guiding Philosophy: Tourism as a Force for Good

"For over 20 years, Planeterra has been connecting local communities across the world to the benefits of tourism," Selene explained. 

"What we want to see is a world where people can create meaningful, economic opportunities that can celebrate their cultures and offer environmental protection."

What truly sets Planeterra apart, Selene highlighted, is their deep market connection with travel companies, like G Adventures, Evaneos, Iberostar, Travelsphere, Just You, easyJet holidays and DERTOUR. This direct link allows them to channel the power of the travel industry directly to grassroots initiatives, ensuring that tourism dollars genuinely empower local people and drive positive change.

Weaving Nature Positive Principles into Community Fabric

For MOYO, the ‘Nature Positive’ aspect is paramount, and it was exciting to hear how Planeterra actively integrates environmental protection. Selene shared that their collaboration with MOYO has been instrumental in increasing knowledge about the biodiversity crisis among their Global Community Tourism Network partners.

Findings from Planeterra’s latest Annual Impact Report show that Community Tourism doesn’t just protect nature, it helps us reconnect with it, builds local systems that work in harmony with it, and invests in its future.

Members of Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network are bringing this vision to life through four key themes that drive long-term environmental impact:

• 63% are Reconnecting People and Nature

• 87% are Supporting Sustainable Value Chains

• 59% are Protecting Animals and their Welfare

• 59% are Investing in Nature

  
  

Selene went on to provide many compelling examples of nature-positive initiatives in action:

Guercif Nursery, Morocco ©Planeterra

• Trees for Days: This ambitious initiative, in partnership with G Adventures, aims to plant, grow and maintain over 4 million trees by the end of 2025. It's not just about reforestation; it's about "uplifting communities in different places in the world," enhancing community resilience and adaptability to the impacts of climate change, and improving well-being through biodiversity regeneration which improves food and water security—and, in turn, provides employment and a source of income from selling produce.

• Mi Cafecito, Costa Rica: This local coffee cooperative is a shining example of sustainable practices. By "trying to stay off chemicals" and using income from tours to educate members on more sustainable production, Mi Cafecito demonstrates how tourism can directly support ecological farming and awareness. 

• Parque de la Papa, Peru: Nestled in the Andes, this incredible initiative uses tourism to "preserve the native potatoes and raise awareness of Indigenous preservation," with a significant research component, dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and traditional agricultural practices.

Partnering for Impact: A Global Community

Planeterra's success lies in its deep partnerships with local organizations, and Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network plays a key role in this. This network allows community tourism organizations to join and access benefits such as online learning materials, peer to peer connections and funding.

Moreover, they have the chance to be pre-identified for opportunities, streamlining the connection process for travel companies that have partnered with Planeterra to include community tourism experiences into their offerings. 

Measuring the success of these diverse projects is critical. Planeterra's Global Community Tourism Network now includes a comprehensive impact survey, providing a holistic view that increasingly incorporates "lots of new questions in the climate and biodiversity space."

Parque de la Papa, Peru ©Planeterra

Accelerating the Shift: Opportunities for Collaboration

The shared vision between MOYO and Planeterra presents exciting avenues for future collaboration. Selene highlighted how MOYO closely assisted in developing "training modules for the online learning hub for the Global Community Tourism Network – growing awareness of ‘Nature Positive Tourism’ and the urgent need to protect and restore biodiversity."

Moving forward, there may be more opportunities for joint webinars, for example, that support those communities that want to implement Nature Positive initiatives—particularly by connecting those identified in the survey for specialised training, and potentially action plan development on how to practically implement inclusive, accessible and relatable nature positive tourism activities.

The Evolving Landscape of Responsible Tourism

Selene observes a clear trend: "Experiences that connect travelers with communities and cultures." While traditionally much of the money spent in tourism bypasses local communities, there's an increasing demand for truly meaningful and impactful encounters. This is evident in the rise of travel companies actively "approaching Planeterra to find ways they can integrate more responsible/community-led experiences on itineraries."

An example she cited is Planeterra's partnership with the Iberostar Foundation, a globally recognized company with a rich history in tourism spanning over 65 years, creating spaces within hotels for communities to share their products and knowledge with guests. This innovative approach brings authentic local experiences directly to travelers, demonstrating a significant shift in how large tourism players are engaging with communities.

Empowering Travelers: Making a Positive Impact

For individuals looking to travel more responsibly, Selene offers clear advice: 

"Fortunately, more and more companies are adopting a responsible mindset. If you are searching for a tour operator or tourism provider, make sure that they are operating ethically—genuinely supporting local communities to ensure they are benefitting from the tourism that the destination receives.”

Her key recommendation? "Do research on their websites and blogs about what impact they are having and how they are measuring and reporting this." She also encourages solo travelers to "seek out travel experiences that allow you to genuinely connect with local people and cultures, like joining a community-led tour, sharing a meal with a local family, or staying in a homestay" and to be mindful of how they communicate about their travels after the fact.

Muhaan Collective, India ©Planeterra

A Better Tourism is Possible

"Tourism can be a vehicle to reduce negative impacts and increase positive outcomes. A better tourism is possible—one that integrates and uplifts communities, whilst protecting and restoring nature." 

Selene concluded by illustrating the incredible "ripple effects" of Planeterra’s work. From initiatives like ‘Anoothi India’ that encourages women to gain financial independence, which in turn enables their children to gain education, to organizations like 'Women with Wheels' empowering women into non-traditional roles—community tourism fosters holistic growth and inspires positive change, far beyond just economic benefits.

At MOYO Training Foundation, we are deeply inspired by Planeterra's commitment and achievements. Their work is a testament to the transformative power of tourism when it truly champions communities and protects our natural world. We encourage you to learn more about Planeterra by following them on social media (Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn) and subscribing to their newsletter to witness this positive change firsthand.

If you’d be interested in seeing more collaboration between MOYO and Planeterra, such as joint webinars on Nature Positive Tourism, let us know! Otherwise, you can check out our upcoming training programs.