Impact Travel Group Announces Merger with Camps International
On Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, Impact Travel Group (ITG) has announced its merger with UK-based student travel provider Camps International (Camps). Founded in 2002 by Stuart Rees Jones in Ringwood, United Kingdom, Camps has made a significant impact in the lives of over 50,000 young people through its collaboration with over 1,000 schools. The organization’s first project location was in Kenya, and over the past two decades, they have expanded their efforts to include various projects in underdeveloped and vulnerable communities around the world.
Camps International is a social enterprise with a strong sense of purpose for travelers, partner communities, and the planet. “This characterizes our foundation and determines every aspect of the way we operate,” says Stuart Rees Jones.
Camps International joins the Impact Travel Group, a collective of educational and experiential travel brands that provide transformative experiences. “Our group provides educational travel to deliver positive experiences through personal growth and individual transformation. This is underpinned by a mix of cultural and environmentally sustainable education, service learning, and personal challenge,” explains James Scott, Co-Founder of Impact Travel Group.
With this merger, Camps International joins other prestigious student travel organizations under the ITG umbrella, including Raleigh International, African Impact, Roots Internships for Good, and Kaya Responsible Travel. Each brand is mission-driven and works towards creating a better world by nurturing conscientious global citizens through student travel and international education.
“We are truly an organization dedicated to our mission, and every single member of our staff has been involved in the Impact Travel Group merger,” says Stuart Rees Jones.
As part of the merger, Stuart Rees Jones will step into the role of CEO of Impact Travel Group. The group’s focus is on expanding their market and specifically targeting growth in non-traditional destinations, as well as expanding programs that are inclusive and accessible to a larger and more diverse generation of meaningful travelers.
Camps International is a social enterprise that balances profits with philanthropy. They operate a permanent network of international camps in rural communities and wildlife conservation areas in Latin America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Most of these camps are established on community land and employ local people to build, staff, and supply the camps. The organization offers a wide range of sustainable projects and adventure activities for young people from around the world, including constructing school classrooms, supplying drinking water, and conservation efforts for terrestrial and marine wildlife.
“Camps International delivers life-changing ethical and experiential travel expeditions,” says Stuart Rees Jones.
For more information about Camps International, please visit their website at https://www.campsinternational.com.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.