Director Platform Systems

G Adventures celebrates an epic week of community tourism at GX Cambodia. Roughly 600 changemakers from around the world come together to celebrate the power of travel to change lives. G Adventures has wrapped up an epic week in Cambodia, bringing together around 600 changemakers from around the world for its fourth annual GX World Community Tourism Summit. From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, travel agents, suppliers, media, content creators, travelers, industry leaders and G Adventures staff came together for a week of connection, discovery and learning about the power of travel to change lives. Throughout the week, GX attendees experienced Cambodia through the people and communities at the heart of its tourism industry, while hearing from global voices on how travel can create meaningful economic and social impact. Highlights included: * G Adventures expanded its Global Ambassador Program, welcoming sustainable tourism pioneer Judy Kepher Gona alongside inaugural ambassadors Tony Wheeler, Delfin Pauchi Uhigua and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. * G Adventures launched How to Travel Your Heart Out, a practical guide encouraging travelers to turn small choices into positive impact for people, communities, wildlife and the planet. * The next annual GX summit was confirmed to take place in Brazil in September 2027. * Planeterra unveiled its Community Positive Framework, creating a practical, community-informed approach to defining, measuring and improving tourism's impact. * The rise of 'micro-community travel' was identified, with G Adventures previewing Bazaar, a new platform connecting travelers through shared passions and interests. * Project 300, delivered in partnership with Planeterra, passed its halfway point, with 160 community tourism enterprises now incorporated into G Adventures itineraries on the journey towards 300 by 2030. * Trees for Days surpassed 6.7 million trees grown on behalf of G Adventures travelers, supporting community-led climate action around the world. "G Adventures has always been about doing something differently, and doing it in our own way," says Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures. "There really is something very special about what happens when its global community comes together to change perceptions, raise awareness and ultimately drive demand for destinations and communities that need it most. GX is a perfect example of communityship in action. Its agents, suppliers, staff, media, content creator friends and travelers all come together to celebrate, learn and see first-hand the power of tourism done right. "Cambodia is a destination that has been significantly impacted by the challenges facing tourism in recent years. We knew that bringing our community here could do more than simply bring people together. It could shine a light on this incredible country, create connections, support local communities and hopefully inspire more people to come and experience Cambodia for themselves." GX culminated, as always, with the World Community Tourism Summit on September 27, UN World Tourism Day, bringing the global G community together for a day of thought leadership, engaging sofa sessions, inspiring keynotes and live performances. The day included a welcome from His Excellency Huot Hak, Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, and His Excellency Prak Sophoan, Governor of Siem Reap, alongside performances from Phare Circus - The Cambodian Circus and MeDha Cambodia - a collective of women delivering powerful, drum-led performances celebrating strength, courage and identity. The summit opened with GX's first-ever live on-stage podcast recording, hosted by Travel Trends founder Dan Christian, who joined Bruce Poon Tip to explore the trends shaping travel and ask whether travel really can change the world. G Adventures also welcomed Judy Kepher Gona as its latest Global Ambassador, while Ben Perlo, CEO of G Adventures, celebrated the success of National Geographic Signature with G Adventures - the company's first venture into the high-end travel space. With 66 new trips, over 500 departures across 48 destinations, he celebrated it as G Adventures' most successful travel style launch to date. National Geographic Expedition Expert Khadija Amahal also shared her journey as a young Amazigh woman and explored how travel and community tourism can create opportunity, restore pride and uplift local people. Continuing G Adventures' long-standing leadership in responsible travel, the summit saw the launch of How to Travel Your Heart Out, a new pocket-sized guide encouraging travelers to turn small choices into positive impact. Building on G Adventures' responsible travel guidelines, first launched a decade ago, the interactive guide explores everything from wildlife and Indigenous communities to responsible photography, social media and supporting local economies, shifting the conversation from what travelers shouldn't do to what they can do. The rise of the micro-community. G Adventures also identified a new shift in traveler behavior: the rise of 'micro-community travel'. Smaller, highly engaged communities built around shared passions, identities and interests are increasingly looking to explore the world together. GX attendees were given a preview of Bazaar, a new digital platform launching in Spring 2027 that will allow travelers to browse hosted departures based not only on where they want to go, but who they want to go with and what they care about. Making tourism Community Positive. Planeterra unveiled its new Community Positive Framework, designed to create a practical, community-informed way to define, measure and improve tourism's impact. The initiative will bring together community tourism enterprises, global experts and travel companies to explore what positive tourism impact actually looks like from the perspective of the communities experiencing it. "There is currently no agreed global standard for defining or verifying what positive community impact from tourism actually means," says Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra. "If we want tourism to genuinely benefit communities, we need to understand what communities themselves define as positive, and have practical ways to measure whether we are delivering it." G Adventures, G Touring and TruTravels have joined the group of founding industry partners and supporters. G Values Fund. When G Adventures' Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) reach a point where guiding no longer fits their lifestyle, G Adventures' G Values Fund provides low-interest microloans to help them turn their business dreams into reality. With the upcoming release of Bruce Poon Tip's latest book, "Communityship: Lessons from the Universe and the Business of Everyone," the fund was relaunched as Bruce shared that all proceeds from the book will go towards supporting new G Values Fund projects, helping more members of the G community build businesses and create opportunities of their own. Celebrating greater impact. The summit also marked significant milestones across G Adventures' impact work. Jamie Sweeting confirmed that G Adventures and Planeterra have passed the halfway point of Project 300, with 160 community tourism enterprises now incorporated into G Adventures itineraries. Daniel Walsh from Reforest shared that more than 6.7 million trees are now being grown on behalf of G Adventures travelers through Trees for Days, while Planeterra's Director of Climate & Biodiversity Thomas Armitt shared stories of communities whose lives are being changed through tree-growing initiatives across East Africa. As GX Cambodia came to a close, the week demonstrated what communityship looks like in action: a global community coming together around a shared purpose, while celebrating the people, businesses and ideas proving that tourism can be a force for good.

G Adventures wraps GX Cambodia with Brazil reveal, new tourism framework & product updates. 09-27-2026 5:22 am Michael Pihach is an award-winning journalist with a keen interest in digital storytelling. In addition to PAX, Michael has also written for CBC Life, Ryerson University Magazine, IN Magazine, and DailyXtra.ca. Michael joins PAX after years of working at popular Canadian television shows, such as Steven and Chris, The Goods and The Marilyn Denis Show. Pack your bags, mark your calendars. G Adventures' annual community tourism summit, GX, is heading to Brazil next year. G Adventures' Founder Bruce Poon Tip shared the news on Sunday (Sept 27) at the Sokha Siem Reap Resort & Convention Centre, where a delegation of some 600 travel industry leaders gathered for this year's GX World Community Tourism Summit in Cambodia. The news, shared on World Tourism Day, capped a week of community tourism experiences in Phenom Penh, Siem Reap and beyond. Among the other announcements, Planeterra unveiled a new Community Positive Framework aimed at measuring tourism's impact on local communities, while G Adventures previewed Bazaar, a new digital platform designed around what it calls the emerging trend of "micro-community travel." Brazil will host GX in 2027. (Pax Global Media) The company also announced that Project 300, its initiative with Planeterra to integrate 300 community tourism enterprises into G Adventures itineraries by 2030, has passed the halfway mark, with 160 enterprises now incorporated into trips. Meanwhile, G Adventures' Trees for Days initiative has surpassed 6.7 million trees grown on behalf of travellers. Travel pros fill the room at Sokha Siem Reap Resort & Convention Centre. (Pax Global Media) "G Adventures has always been about doing something differently, and doing it in our own way," said Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, in a statement that was released after the event. "There really is something very special about what happens when our global community comes together to change perceptions, raise awareness and ultimately drive demand for destinations and communities that need it most. GX is a perfect example of communityship in action." Canadian travel pros on the scene at the GX World Community Tourism Summit. (Pax Global Media) World Tourism Day in Siem Reap. Sunday's summit brought the wider GX contingent together for keynotes, panel discussions, live performances and company updates. Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, Huot Hak, and Siem Reap Governor Prak Sophoan welcomed delegates, while Phare Circus - The Cambodian Circus and MeDha Cambodia, a collective of female performers known for its drum-led performances, took the stage. MeDha Cambodia. (Pax Global Media) The program opened with GX's first live on-stage podcast recording, hosted by Travel Trends founder Dan Christian, who joined Poon Tip for a conversation about emerging travel trends and whether tourism can change the world. For G Adventures, choosing Cambodia was also intended to bring international attention to a destination that Poon Tip said has faced significant tourism challenges in recent years. G Adventures' Founder Bruce Poon Tip (left) was interviewed on a live edition of The Travel Trends Podcast with host Dan Christian (right). (Pax Global Media) "Cambodia is a destination that has been significantly impacted by the challenges facing tourism in recent years," he said. "We knew that bringing our community here could do more than simply bring people together. It could shine a light on this incredible country, create connections, support local communities and hopefully inspire more people to come and experience Cambodia for themselves." That philosophy was put into practice throughout GX, as attendees visited community tourism enterprises and cultural sites between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, meeting local people and seeing how tourism dollars can support livelihoods, cultural preservation and economic opportunities. PAX has been reporting from this year's GX Summit. Stay tuned for a detailed account of the experience! Canada on the scene in Cambodia. (Pax Global Media) Canadian travel advisors get the G Adventures treatment in Cambodia at GX. (Pax Global Media). Expanded ambassador program. G Adventures also used the summit to expand its Global Ambassador Programme, welcoming sustainable tourism leader Judy Kepher Gona. Judy Kepher Gona, sustainable tourism expert and founder of the Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STTA). (Pax Global Media) She joins inaugural ambassadors Tony Wheeler, Delfin Pauchi Uhigua and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. Meanwhile, Ben Perlo, CEO of G Adventures, shared an update on National Geographic Signature with G Adventures, the company's first move into the high-end travel market. Ben Perlo, CEO of G Adventures. (Pax Global Media) The collection comprises 66 new trips and more than 500 departures across 48 destinations. Perlo described Signature as G Adventures' most successful travel-style launch to date. National Geographic Expedition Expert Khadija Amahal also took the stage to share her experience as a young Amazigh woman and discuss how travel and community tourism can create opportunities and help strengthen pride within local communities. Canadian travel advisors in GX mode in Cambodia. (Pax Global Media) New guide puts responsible travel into action. G Adventures also launched How to Travel Your Heart Out, a pocket-sized guide aimed at helping travellers make everyday choices that create a more positive impact while travelling. The interactive guide builds on responsible travel guidelines introduced by G Adventures a decade ago, covering topics including wildlife, Indigenous communities, photography, social media and supporting local economies. Canadian travel advisors visit the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. (Supplied) Rather than focusing solely on what travellers shouldn't do, the guide is designed around practical actions travellers can take. The rise of "micro-community travel" Another trend highlighted in Siem Reap was what G Adventures is calling "micro-community travel" - travel involving smaller, highly engaged groups connected by common passions, identities or interests. To tap into the trend, G Adventures previewed Bazaar, a new digital platform scheduled to launch in spring 2027. The platform will allow users to browse hosted departures not only according to destination, but based on who they want to travel with and the interests they share. Defining "Community Positive" tourism. Planeterra, meanwhile, unveiled its Community Positive Framework, an initiative intended to establish a community-informed way of defining, measuring and improving tourism's local impact. The framework will bring together community tourism enterprises, tourism companies and experts to examine what positive tourism impact looks like from the perspective of communities themselves. "There is currently no agreed global standard for defining or verifying what positive community impact from tourism actually means," said Jamie Sweeting, president of Planeterra. "If we want tourism to genuinely benefit communities, we need to understand what communities themselves define as positive, and have practical ways to measure whether we are delivering it." Jamie Sweeting, president of Planeterra. (Pax Global Media) G Adventures, G Touring and TruTravels have signed on as founding industry partners and supporters. G Values Fund gets a boost. Poon Tip also shared an update on the G Values Fund, which provides low-interest microloans to G Adventures Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) who are transitioning from leading tours and looking to launch businesses of their own. The fund is getting a new source of support tied to Poon Tip's upcoming book, Communityship: Lessons from the Universe and the Business of Everyone, scheduled for release in Canada and the United States on Nov. 24. A revised version of Communityship will be out this November in Canada. (Pax Global Media) As some may recall, Poon Tip's book was originally supposed to come out last year. However, he felt the original manuscript - which concludes with GX's 2024 event in India - had become outdated following several developments that emerged during and after last year's GX in Jordan. The revised edition incorporates major milestones, such as G Adventures' 35th anniversary, and key GX moments from Jordan, such as Poon Tip meeting The Jacksons, which headlined last year's afterparty. Primatologist and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall, a longtime G Adventures friend and partner, also passed away last year. Goodall wrote the foreword to Poon Tip's new book, and the revised edition expands on their relationship while reflecting more deeply on the impact she had on his life and work. "It's a way better book," Poon Tip told the audience on Sunday. "The universe was looking at me, saying 'Hang on a second...You've got much more better things to say." Poon Tip said all proceeds from the book will go toward new G Values Fund projects, helping members of the G Adventures community develop businesses and create economic opportunities. This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more of PAX's on location coverage of GX in Cambodia.