Tourism Cares, the nonprofit travel industry organization formed to preserve the travel experience for future generations, launched a new Global Outreach program with a five-day program in Peru. The program is designed to bring members of the travel industries of North America and Peru together in a series of events to explore best practices to help preserve natural, cultural and historic sites in Peru.

Tourism Cares’ first target sites for Global Outreach are Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of Peru. The two-year initiative will kick off with the Go Peru Leadership Expedition May 3-7. The deadline for reservations is Friday, Feb. 24.

“Our new Global Outreach program is designed to mirror Tourism Cares’ successful domestic model in key destinations around the world,” said Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares. “Global Outreach will bring together industry leaders in sharing experience, expertise, talent and passion to assist in the conservation and preservation of iconic tourism destinations worldwide.”

GO Peru is a collaborative program of North American and Peruvian travel and tourism companies who are investing time and resources to support the May Leadership Expedition. North American and Peruvian industry leaders will share perspectives in an educational forum in Cusco, work side by side to clean up and improve a tourism site in the city, and also visit the ancient Incan sanctuary at Machu Picchu. Tourism Cares has pledged to match funds raised by Turismo Cuida, a new charity comprised of eight Peruvian tourism companies, to provide grants and educational programs over the next two years.

“The Peruvian contingent of Tourism Cares’ GO Peru Initiative is preparing a memorable trip in May for those who will join us,” said Carlos Alberto Arrate, president of Lima Tours and one of the organizers of Tursimo Cuida. “We are setting up a sustainable local counterpart to Tourism Cares, Turismo Cuida, to replicate the successful model in our destination. We are thankful for having been chosen first and enthusiastic to participate in the Global Outreach program.”

Tauck World Discovery and Trip Mate are providing leadership funding for the Global Outreach initiative for three years. Key sponsors of the two-year Go Peru grant program include Amadeus North America, Collette Vacations, Fairmont Specialty, General Tours, Meridian Management Group, Odysseys Unlimited, On Call International and Ward Insurance Network. Other participating companies include Adventures by Disney, Avanti Destinations, Berkely/AON, George Washington University, The Group Travel Leader, MaCher, NTA and the United States Tour Operators Association.

“Global Outreach 2012-13 is a significant, first-ever leap by our industry to collaborate and take action, with governments, industry, and universities in key countries in a shared vision of sustainable tourism, sharing best practices, new ideas and building longer protection and prosperity for all,” said Robin Tauck, co-owner and past president of Tauck. “We encourage others to join this innovative GO program as Tourism Cares now expands around the globe. Tauck is proud to be a Global Leader, a perfect fit to our 87-year family company vision and our love for these treasured places.”

GO Peru is supported by a new partnership of eight travel and tourism companies in Peru. Turismo Cuida has been formed by Aranwa Hotels Resorts and Spas, Coltur Peru, Delfin Amazon Cruises, Inca Rail, Libertador Hotels Resorts & Spas, Lima Tours, Viajes Pacífico and Orient-Express Hotels. For more information, click on Tourism Cares’ Global Outreach.