Hikers who Care
Millennium Hikers is a global initiative promoting local sustainable development and community empowerment through responsible, intercultural outdoor experiences such as hiking and walking, in a wide variety of environments.
Millennium Hikers is also an international community of hikers and walkers committed to have a positive impact on people and the planet.
Millennium Hikers is also an international community of hikers and walkers committed to have a positive impact on people and the planet.
Our objectives
- To inform, inspire and engage action on the SDGS, towards peace, happiness, shared prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability,
- To support local development and empowerment, and to reduce territorial inequalities,
- To promote the benefits of hiking and walking for health and well-being,
Our core values: Sustainability, activity and responsibility
We support the SDGs
Background The Millennium Hikers project was launched early 2016 by three French expats living in Seoul, including Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, Founder and CEO of Millennium Destinations. Its main objective was to promote sustainable hiking tourism in France and Korea on the occasion of the France-Korea Year 2015-2016 celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In March 2016, Catherine presented Millennium Hikers at the 9th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism - Mountain Likers in Andorra.
In October 2016, Millennium Hikers became an international community of hikers and walkers mostly based in Korea. As of today, the group is composed of hundreds of members from Korea and overseas, including members of the diplomatic community, representatives of international organizations and corporations, public officers, professionals, journalists, professors, students, etc.
Since then, Millennium Hikers have organized regular and special walking and hiking events in South Korea through several public-private partnerships: Semaine de la Francophonie (annual world celebration of French-speaking) since 2017, Fête du Sport(sports Celebration) in 2018 and 2019, etc.
Korean cities like Ansan, Dasan and PyeongChang in Korea have invited Millennium Hikers to attend special events focused on sustainable tourism, ecotourism, etc.
Millennium Hikers is a project of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, a multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes knowledge sharing and networking opportunities to better implement sustainable consumption and production in the tourism sector.
In March 2016, Catherine presented Millennium Hikers at the 9th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism - Mountain Likers in Andorra.
In October 2016, Millennium Hikers became an international community of hikers and walkers mostly based in Korea. As of today, the group is composed of hundreds of members from Korea and overseas, including members of the diplomatic community, representatives of international organizations and corporations, public officers, professionals, journalists, professors, students, etc.
Since then, Millennium Hikers have organized regular and special walking and hiking events in South Korea through several public-private partnerships: Semaine de la Francophonie (annual world celebration of French-speaking) since 2017, Fête du Sport(sports Celebration) in 2018 and 2019, etc.
Korean cities like Ansan, Dasan and PyeongChang in Korea have invited Millennium Hikers to attend special events focused on sustainable tourism, ecotourism, etc.
Millennium Hikers is a project of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, a multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes knowledge sharing and networking opportunities to better implement sustainable consumption and production in the tourism sector.
Decathlon Korea
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Future developments
- Development of Millennium Hikers by Millennium Destinations as a global network and online platform dedicated to the promotion of sustainable hiking and walking destinations, experiences and practices benefiting the local communities and their environments.
- Building of partnerships with the public and private organizations for the co-creation of value-added Millennium Hikers projects, activities and events, in with local authorities, NGOs, businesses, etc. for example as part of sustainability and CSR policies, strategies and action plans.
- Preparation of Millennium Hikers charter / criteria for sustainable walking and hiking, based on existing international standards and criteria.
- Co-creation and sharing of high-quality contents on hiking and walking experiences, destinations and practices with high cultural and educational values.
- Promotion of Millennium Hikers experiences and tours through a variety of online platforms, including Herost, an impact-driven platform and global network aimed at promoting sustainable, community-centered travel experiences.
Millennium Hikers Eco-tours: unique and authentic hiking and walking experiences
- Public-Private Partnerships with local administrations, public authorities, businesses, local and international NGOs, temples, etc.
- Small intercultural groups composed of Koreans and foreigners, including Millennium Hikers, bloggers, influencers, public figures, etc. to avoid overcrowding and exceeding the carrying-capacity of destinations.
- Including both "off-the-beaten-track" components and flagship attractions;
- Green transportation and accommodation, homestays
- High added value: educational, sustainable, discovery of natural and cultural heritage, local traditions, know-how, products, etc.
- Interaction with the locals: hike with the locals, community-based activities, homestays etc.
- Support from local authorities and community leaders
- Dissemination of guidelines and best practices for sustainable hiking
- Creation of quality contents: stories, pictures, videos, etc. to be shared through various channels: social media platforms, lectures, exhibitions, etc.
- Design of a model for responsible, community-centered hiking tours, to be developed and promoted on domestic and international markets.