Planeterra Foundation’s Global Community Tourism Network
The Planeterra Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “turning travel into impact in communities. With over 16 years of experience in community tourism development, Planeterra promotes a market-driven, traveler-centric model of tourism that “ensures more money stays in the hands of local people” while providing high-quality experiences.
In practice, this means supporting community-owned tourism enterprises so that when “travelers win and communities win,” local economies and even travel companies benefit too. To further these goals, Planeterra launched the Global Community Tourism Network, a program that connects community-based tourism enterprises around the world. Through this Network, Planeterra commits to fostering a positive learning environment for participating enterprises and actively connecting them with expertise and resources to grow their impact.
Notable Successes: Planeterra emphasizes strong, measurable outcomes from its community tourism partnerships. For example, the organization reports a 100% success rate in bringing community tourism experiences to market. This success rate reflects the effectiveness of Planeterra’s model and collaborative approach. In practical terms, enterprises that engage with Planeterra’s Network benefit in several ways. Members gain unlimited access to the Planeterra Learning Hub – an online library of management resources – as well as ongoing training videos and expert-led webinars.
They also connect with a global peer network of fellow community tourism professionals, backed by regional Planeterra representatives who provide guidance and support. In Planeterra’s own words, joining the Network enables enterprises to “expand your knowledge and skills, share your knowledge and experience with other enterprises, [and] grow your enterprise”. These opportunities for skill-building, networking, and resource-sharing have helped countless community tourism groups to grow their impact.
In many cases, Planeterra’s market-driven model has helped communities retain a larger share of tourism revenue, leading to improved livelihoods and stronger local economies – a “better kind of tourism” in which travelers and hosts alike benefit.
Eligibility Criteria for Funding: The Global Community Tourism Network is designed for community-based tourism enterprises that meet specific criteria. To be eligible, an organization must be actively involved in tourism and make a positive social or environmental impact in its community. It must have access to basic technology (a smartphone or computer and Internet) and include at least one representative who can communicate in English or Spanish. In addition to these operational requirements, the enterprise must fit one of the following categories planeterra.org:
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Nonprofit organization,
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Social enterprise,
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Community-owned enterprise or association,
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Majority Indigenous-owned small or micro-enterprise,
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Cooperative.
These criteria ensure that Network members are community-driven organizations committed to responsible tourism. Planeterra typically allows up to two people per enterprise to join the Network, focusing on leaders or decision-makers who can implement and share learning with their teams.
Application Process: Joining the Global Community Tourism Network is a straightforward, free process. Interested organizations start by visiting Planeterra’s website and clicking the “Apply Now” link, which directs them to Planeterra’s online Learning Hub (a Teachable platform). There is no application fee or required paperwork beyond the information requested in the online form. The Network is funded by a broad community of donors – including travelers, tour operators, development agencies and governments – so membership is always free for eligible communities.
After submitting the online registration, Planeterra reviews each application to confirm that the organization meets all criteria. Applicants are not automatically enrolled upon submission; instead, if an organization satisfies the requirements, the Planeterra team will contact them with the next steps for joining. In practice, this means that once approved, the enterprise’s two representatives can gain full access to the Network’s benefits. During this process, Planeterra emphasizes ongoing engagement: members are expected to participate actively in online trainings, discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities.
In summary, the Planeterra Global Community Tourism Network offers a free, donor-supported platform for qualifying community tourism enterprises. Eligible organizations apply online through the Planeterra portal, and those meeting the requirements are invited to become Network partners. Once admitted, partners tap into Planeterra’s expertise and resources – from the Learning Hub to a worldwide community of peers – to strengthen their tourism enterprises and maximize positive community impact.
