GapEdu Consulting and Training, an Icon of Change

Icons of Change International Awards 2025
GapEdu Consulting and Training
Founded by Hanni Tran | Co-Founder & CEO: Jyrki Nilson
Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
Changemaker for Inclusive, Responsible, and Regenerative Tourism (Global)
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For a quarter of a century, GapEdu Consulting and Training has been rewriting the story of tourism—proving that growth can be sustainable, profit can coexist with purpose, and destinations can flourish without losing their cultural or ecological soul. Founded in 2000 by Hanni Tran, a pioneer of community-based tourism in Vietnam, and driven forward today under the visionary leadership of Co-Founder and CEO Jyrki Nilson, GapEdu has become a trusted catalyst for governments, businesses, and communities seeking to align tourism with sustainability, resilience, and inclusive economic opportunity.
GapEdu’s early work laid the foundation for community-based tourism in An Giang Province, where local households were trained in homestay operations, eco-guiding, and craft enterprises. Within five years, incomes in participating villages rose by more than 40%, while cultural traditions were safeguarded as part of the visitor experience. This pilot program became a model replicated in other regions of Vietnam, influencing both provincial tourism policies and national strategies for inclusive rural development.
The organization’s expansion into urban destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Vung Tau highlighted its ability to operate at scale. In Da Nang, GapEdu partnered with the city government to design a Destination Sustainability Action Plan, integrating climate adaptation measures, green mobility, and community tourism hubs into the city’s long-term tourism strategy. In Vung Tau, GapEdu developed training programs for coastal communities, preparing them for sustainable roles in marine tourism while embedding biodiversity protection standards in local business practices.
By 2015, GapEdu’s expertise was recognized internationally, and the organization began influencing global tourism policy dialogues. Through platforms such as the Global Tourism Forum and World Magazine, GapEdu shared Vietnam’s success stories and shaped conversations around climate resilience, regenerative economies, and community empowerment. This growing international profile paved the way for its strategic expansion into Europe, establishing a new base in Finland and forming partnerships across the EU to promote sustainable tourism practices in Nordic and Baltic destinations.
GapEdu’s Policy and Strategy Advisory practice has since become a cornerstone of its global impact. In collaboration with governments, the team has co-designed national master plans that balance economic competitiveness with ecological responsibility.