The CEO of G Adventures, Bruce Poon Tip has condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and gone on to cancel all tours in Russia.
Poon Tip began his condemnation with a reflection on the struggle that people have faced during the global pandemic.
“The past two years we have been living through a global pandemic that has caused physical separation for millions around the world. For the first time in our lifetime, we faced a common enemy, which gave us the opportunity to bring humanity together in a shared mission to eradicate the virus,” Poon Tip said.
“We should have emerged shoulder to shoulder, more unified, compassionate and empathetic than ever before. And yet, here we are, on the precipice of a more dangerous chapter of our civilised history, driven purely by the need to divide.”
He goes on to announce his stance alongside people in Ukraine: “I stand with Ukraine. I stand for freedom and democracy.”
“We are living in dangerous times, where people are divided and looking for division and this just shows us we still have a long way to go. We owe it to future generations to do whatever we can to bridge these divides.”
Poon Tip said that G Adventures will no longer service Russia and those who are booked on tours in Russia will receive a refund.
“As a company, G Adventures has cancelled all tours in Russia and travellers booked on forward departures will be refunded. We will no longer accept Russian nationals residing inside Russia on our trips, nor will we take bookings from Russian agencies,” he said.
“Unfortunately, these sanctions and forced global isolation will impact everyday people who may not agree with — and who may even be brave enough to protest — their country’s politics. However, these sanctions are essential in order to apply pressure on the entire country and to invoke change.
“There are many fine people in Russia who are now forced to become part of the solution. At this advanced stage where war has already commenced, there are only three options: deposed leadership, a complete regime change, or retreat from actions already taken. All of these come back to an internal solution created by global pressure and unfortunately, good people become an important part of the story.”
He then went on to comment on how this will impact travel, both within G Adventures and the whole industry.
“I have always said travel can be the fastest path to peace, so it breaks my heart that it has come to this. If you are reading this and have the privilege to do so, please continue to be the shining light and get back out there and travel.
“It’s only by connecting with other cultures that we can foster connection and understanding between different countries and communities. This cultural exchange is the backbone of what I built this company on 32 years ago and it must continue.
“Our travellers, partners and team members continue to show extraordinary resilience in our commitment to delivering these life-changing experiences, even when faced with the most challenging of situations. Thank you to everyone who has stood by us and who continues to be passionate about changing the world through travel.”
Poon Tip concluded: “Travel is the most powerful way we can open our hearts, minds, and eyes to the beauty of the world, especially in the darkest of times.”
