Caldera Impact is a Vanuatu-based social enterprise working with island communities across the Pacific to design and deliver community-led tourism experiences rooted in sport, culture, and place. The company partners closely with local leaders, youth groups, and village councils to create trail running events and outdoor experiences that generate immediate income while laying the groundwork for longer-term tourism development.
At the center of its model is the Yasur Volcano Run on Tanna Island, a flagship event that brings international and local runners together to race across volcanic landscapes while staying within and engaging directly with host communities. Participants stay in locally owned bungalows, use community-run transport, and rely on local guides, cooks, and service providers. In doing so, the event channels tourism spending directly into the community from the outset.
This approach serves as a blueprint for Caldera Impact’s broader work. Each event is designed not only as a one-time experience, but as a starting point for trail development, small business creation, and year-round tourism opportunities that remain locally owned and managed.
The Caldera Impact Origin Story
Caldera Impact grew out of years of on-the-ground work in Vanuatu.
Founders Marc Giraud and Lea Faccarello had been working in adventure tourism and destination marketing through their company NAOIA, designing experiences and supporting tourism development across the islands. Through this work, they saw both the potential and the limitations of tourism in remote communities.
Many of these places had strong cultural identity and natural assets, but lacked the infrastructure, visibility, and support needed to attract visitors in a consistent way. At the same time, traditional tourism models often struggled to reach these communities in a way that felt accessible or beneficial at the local level.
The turning point came through early iterations of the Volcano Run. What began as a small, locally grounded event quickly demonstrated its potential to bring visitors into remote areas, generate income, and create a shared sense of ownership within the community.
From there, the idea evolved. Rather than treating the run as a standalone event, Marc and Lea began building a model around it, one where each race could act as a catalyst for broader tourism development.
Caldera Impact was formally launched in 2025 to scale this approach, using the Yasur Volcano Run as its flagship example and foundation for expansion across other islands.
How Caldera Impact Is Making A Positive Impact
Caldera Impact creates impact by linking tourism activity directly to community benefit, with the Yasur Volcano Run as its clearest example.
The event brings together runners across multiple categories, including elite athletes, local participants, youth, and Vanuatu’s first para-athlete race category. Beyond the race itself, the entire community is involved in delivering the experience, from hosting visitors in bungalows to managing checkpoints, preparing food, guiding runners, and supporting logistics.
This structure ensures that the economic impact is immediate and widely distributed. The Yasur Volcano Run generated significant income for local households and community groups through lodging, transport, and event services, while also engaging hundreds of community members in the process.
The impact continues after the event. Trails cleared and developed for the race remain in place for future visitors. Community members receive training in guiding, event management, and tourism services, building skills that can support ongoing livelihoods. In many cases, roles that begin during the event evolve into small businesses that continue operating year-round.
The run also plays an important role in visibility. By attracting international participants and media attention, it helps place remote communities on the map, creating future demand for the experiences and infrastructure developed around the event.
Together, these elements show how a single event can act as both an economic driver and a foundation for longer-term, community-led tourism.
Why the UnTours Foundation Invested in Caldera Impact
Through the Reset Tourism Fund, with funding from Skyscanner, this investment supports Caldera Impact as it builds a model of tourism that creates direct benefits for communities while protecting the environments they depend on.
Skyscanner’s partnership with the UnTours Foundation focuses on supporting businesses that put communities at the center of tourism, create fair and inclusive economic opportunities, and prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term growth. Caldera Impact reflects these priorities in a clear and practical way.
The Yasur Volcano Run demonstrates how this model works in practice. It generates immediate income for communities, builds local capacity, and creates the foundation for ongoing tourism activity that remains locally owned and managed.
This investment supports Caldera Impact as it expands this approach to new communities and continues developing a model that aligns closely with Skyscanner’s goal of making travel a force for good.
How You Can Support Caldera Impact
Caldera Impact is creating tourism opportunities in remote island communities by working directly with local partners. By participating in or supporting these events, you help generate income for host communities and contribute to the development of locally led tourism. You can also support their work by sharing their story, connecting them with partners, and supporting travel experiences that prioritize community benefit.
