Adventure travel specialist Intrepid Travel has launched a million dollar fundraising campaign, Namaste Nepal, that will see all profits from the company’s next season of Nepal trips donated to local and international charities working to rebuild Nepal.
The company’s not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has already raised AUD$400,000 (approx. €280,000) to support Plan International’s emergency relief support to families in Nepal. The company aims to raise a further $600,000 (€420,000) through profits and donations.
The money raised through sales of Intrepid’s trips to Nepal from September 2015 to May 2016 will be distributed by The Intrepid Foundation to a range of international and local charities such as KEEP, a project that works for porters’ welfare and education.
With more than 26 years’ experience in the country and around 200 local employees in Nepal, Intrepid Travel has strong ties to the destination and its people. Intrepid’s Kathmandu-based operations team ensured the safe evacuation of travellers after the earthquake and are now working closely with safety experts and local authorities to assess infrastructure.
Intrepid Travel co-founder Darrell Wade will be visiting Nepal in June to meet with staff in Kathmandu. Darrell and the local team will be working with NGOs and official organisations to identify relevant and tangible charitable projects that are in most need of support from the company’s million dollar fundraising campaign.
“The generosity of our travel community has been inspiring. People clearly care about Nepal and the Nepalese people as much as we do,” said James Thornton, Managing Director, Intrepid Travel.
“The question we have been asked most about Nepal is simply: how can I help? We have spoken to our local team in Nepal and concluded that the best thing we can do now is to visit the country. Tourism is Nepal’s largest industry, but without visitors many Nepalese people will find it difficult to earn a living. As the largest guided tour operator in Nepal, we believe it is important for Intrepid to lead the way and support the country when it needs us most.”
Intrepid Travel hopes that by donating profits from the 2015-16 season that travellers will be encouraged to return to Nepal.
“It means that every traveller, every trekker, every person that visits Nepal this year will be directly contributing to the rebuilding effort,” James added.
To find out more about Intrepid’s trips to Nepal and share news about the fundraising campaign, visit www.intrepidtravel.com/return-nepal and use the hashtag #NepalNeedsYou. To make a donation to The Intrepid Foundation projects in Nepal, including directly to the Namaste Nepal appeal or KEEP’s Porter Welfare project, visit www.theintrepidfoundation.org. Intrepid Travel covers all administration costs.
