Beyond tourism

The META Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit promoting cultural, social and environmental sustainability through new forms of travel. Our goal is to address the negative effects of mass tourism and create a more equitable and decentralized travel ecosystem that puts the power back into the hands of local communities.

Freedom of thought, individualism and equality in a future of digital disruption and technological advancement is important for the future of humanity.

— Techism Movement, Krista Kim

We want to elevate virtual experiences while tying them back into physical travel. As we start traveling more consciously, the metaverse offers an opportunity to mitigate adverse effects of mass tourism, while more directly supporting and engaging with local communities.

— Markus Schreyer, META Foundation

[PROJECT 1]

NFT

Meta Foundation - Prayer Flag by Asha Kama

A series of 1080 NFTs

The META Foundation, in collaboration with VAST Bhutan and the Rubin Museum, pioneers virtual travel with a collection of 1080 NFTs spreading good wishes and positive messages from Bhutan — a small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that measures happiness instead of gross domestic product — across the metaverse. Sales will support educational programs, and the cleaning of the mountains surrounding Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital-city.

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[PROJECT 1]

VIRTUAL BHUTAN

[PROJECT 1.1]

THE PRAYER FLAG PROJECT

A series of 1080 NFTs

The META Foundation, in collaboration with VAST Bhutan and the Rubin Museum of Art, pioneers virtual travel with a collection of 1080 NFTs spreading good wishes and positive messages from Bhutan — a small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that measures happiness instead of gross domestic product — across the metaverse. Sales support educational programs, and the cleaning of the mountains surrounding Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital-city.

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“These days, we need more love so we hoist more prayer flags. Culturally, they should not last forever, but we print them with permanent ink because we want our prayers to last longer. Virtual prayer flags are both persistent and fleeting.”
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— Asha Kama, founder of VAST Bhutan

[PROJECT 1.2]

WINDHORSE NFT

Inspired by the motif on traditional Buddhist prayer flags, which today are made of synthetic, non-biodegradable materials, "Windhorse" is a commentary on both the environment and (im)permanence. The sculpture, made of fallen, faded, entangled prayer flags collected from the mountains, breathes new life into their prayers and revisits this tradition in the age of commodification and mass consumption. The META Foundation introduced the digitized sculpture as one of Bhutan’s first NFTs during the Fast Company Innovation Festival on September 29, 2021.

OPEN ON SPATIAL

[PROJECT 2]

CHACCHOBEN, MEXICO

In partnership with local artist Carmen Mondragon, this upcoming project aims to encourage community revitalization, and help establish a sustainable economy through art and tourism in the small village of Chacchoben, located near the coast of the Mexican Caribbean. Hosting one of the largest Mayan settlements in the region, the village suffers from high rates of domestic violence and substance abuse, rising social issues, and ongoing sanitation problems, despite its proximity to major tourist attractions — the Mayan ruins.

Coming Fall 2023