Canadian tour operator G Adventures has developed an initiative
aimed at inspiring travel sellers and their clients to use travel as a force
for global good.
Motivated by the United Nations declaring 2017 as the Year
of Sustainable Tourism for Development, G Adventures has launched a search for
six "Ambassadors of Change" -- travel sellers who will be selected
based on applications submitted to the company by the end of the year to help
represent ideas and solutions geared at more sustainable travel.
Travel agents who wish to apply will answer a series of
questions and pitch G Adventures as to why they fit the bill. Ten finalists
will be selected, who will then make a video pitch from which six ambassadors
will be chosen. The six ambassadors will be asked to promote the socioeconomic
benefits of travel, including the social enterprise projects G Adventures is
infusing in a growing number of its tours (the company's goal is to have social
enterprise projects incorporated into 50 of its tours by 2020).
They will also be asked to support G Adventures in its
participation in the UN sustainable tourism campaign, and be involved in the
launch of a forthcoming "Travel Better" online learning platform G
Adventures is developing.
G Adventures will begin accepting applications for the new
program on Nov. 15, and the deadline for submissions is Dec. 31. The six
ambassadors will be selected in January.