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Peace Through Tourism
December 2003 Conference
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Global Summit 2003
Africa's First
Background IIPT
Bridges to Peace
Doors to Peace
IIPT - History
Mpumalanga,
Peace News
Peace Parks
Peace Pics
Slave Route




Louis d'Amore
Founder IIPT


 "..Give a man a fish and you feed his family for a day.
Teach him to fish and you will feed them for a lifetime."

IPAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment ñ both built and natural, the preservation of heritage, and through these initiatives, contributing to a peaceful and sustainable world.


The first IIPT Conference was held under the five sails at the Waterfront in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (right).

The Institute was formed in 1986 (the UN International Year of Peace) with a vision of travel and tourism as the world's first 'Global Peace Industry ñ an industry that recognizes, promotes and supports the belief that every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace within the global family, and an ambassador for peace with nature.

The 2002 IIPT conference is being held in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, near the famous Kruger Park.

 

Past conferences:

Global Summit on Peace through Tourism (November 8-11, 2000)
The first Global Summit on Peace through Tourism, held in Amman, Jordan was most successful and achieved several significant outcomes including:

* The Amman Declaration in support of a Culture of Peace through Tourism and the U.N. Decade for Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)

* Signing of a Memorandum of understanding between MEMTTA Americas and

the World Travel and Tourism Council

* Formation of a Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism with 26

international travel industry organizations as founding members ñ each committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of tourism as a global peace industry

* Formation of five international networks (Educators, Rural and Community-Based Tourism, Spirituality in Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Indigenous) in support of a Culture of Peace through Tourism

* Launching of a Global Peace Parks project on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the

11th month, 2000 at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism

* Plans for follow up Symposia, Conferences and a Second Global Summit

The achievements of the First Global Summit together with the seven principles of the Amman Declaration, form the basis for the Institute's Five Year Plan in support of the U.N. Decade for Peace and Non-Violence. The four over-arching goals of this plan are to achieve progress in the following areas:

Bridging of the have and have-not peoples of the world

Healing the wounds of conflict

Educating for a culture of peace through tourism

Greater awareness and commitment in all regions of the world to

Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism

Foundations of the Global Summit on Peace through Tourism

The Summit was built on the foundations of three previous Global Conferences of the IIPT:

Vancouver, 1988; Montreal, 1994; and Glasgow, 1999. Honorary Chairpersons of previous Conferences were: H.E. Vigdis Finnbogadottir, President of Iceland and HM Queen Noor of Jordan. Video taped messages to Opening Ceremonies have been received from Pope John Paul II, President Ronald Reagan and UNESCO Secretary General Federico Mayor. Keynote Speakers

have included: J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Marriott Hotels and Resorts; Claude Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Air Canada; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization; Robert Burns, Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Nobel Peace Laureate David Trimball; Dr. Georgi Grechko, Cosmonaut and President, Federation of Peace and Conciliation (Russia), Dr. Fouad Sultan, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Egypt; Dr. Karan Singh, President, International Centre, India and other world leaders from the fields of travel and tourism, culture, environment, heritage and international development.

IIPT has been a pioneer in developing Codes of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism.

FIVE YEAR PLAN

Symposia, Conferences and Future Global Summits

To continue building awareness, commitment and a global base of partners and networks, IIPT will organize a series of Symposia, Conferences and Global Summits over the next five years. Greece, May 2001- Conference of industry leaders from Greece and Turkey

South Africa, May 2001 - Symposium on Travelers with Special Needs in cooperation with Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped

Jamaica, August 2001 - Caribbean Workshop on Community-Based Tourism

Assisi, Italy, October 2001 - Spirituality in Tourism Conference

To be determined: Educators Symposium on Peace through Tourism and

Tourism and Environment Symposium in collaboration with Global Environment Facility

Philadelphia, January 2002 ñ Cultural Heritage Tourism Conference

South Africa, February 2002 - Pan African Conference on Peace through Tourism

Slovenia, March 2002- Central European Conference on Peace through Tourism

Canada, September 2002 - Global Indigenous Tourism Forum

Second Global Summit on Peace through Tourism -November 2002

Asian Conference on Peace through Tourism - 2003 or 4

South American Conference on Peace through Tourism - 2003 or 4

Central American Conference on Peace through Tourism -2003 or 4

Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism - November 2004

Projects and Programs

Specific projects and programs to be undertaken by IIPT include:

Global Peace Parks Project - building on the success of the IIPT Peace Parks Across Canada Project commemorating Canada's 125th anniversary.

Executive Ambassador Program - matching retired tourism industry executives with requirements in developing nations for one to four month assignments.

Student Ambassador Program - inter-disciplinary teams of graduate students conducting six week (for credit) projects in host developing countries.

Micro Enterprise Project ñ revolving low interest loans for individuals and communities starting tourism ventures in developing countries.

Partnering

IIPT will continue strengthening relationships with key international organizations including the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), U.N. Agencies, World Bank and nurturing the development of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism and its five international networks: Educators Network, Rural & Community Based Tourism Network, Cultural Heritage Tourism Network, Spirituality in Tourism Network and Global Indigenous Tourism Forum.

COALITION OF PARTNERS FOR WORLD PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

Each partner is committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of Tourism as a Global Peace Industry.

Adventure Travel Society

Airline Ambassadors International

Africa Travel Association

Archaeological Institute of America and Archaeology Magazine

Asian Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus

b-there.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization

Educational Travel Alliance

Elderhostel

European Travel Commission

Hospitality Ireland

Hosteling International ñ American Youth Hostels

Indian Tour Operators Association

International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus

International Federation of Women Travel Organizations

Kompas Holidays

Middle East - Mediterranean Travel & Tourism Association

Nepal Tourism Industry Association

PATA Maldives Chapter

Reed Travel Exhibitions

SK‰L International

Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped

Society of Incentive Travel Executives

Sustainable Communities through Tourism Foundation

The International Tourism Exchange (BIT)

Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Association


Global Summit a Success
This past November, Louis d'Amore organized the first Global Summit on Peace through Tourism in Amman, Jordan, honoring the legacy of King Hussein as a peacemaker and serving as a demonstration of support for a continuation of the peace process in the Middle East and other regions of the world.

Twenty-six prestigious international organizations have now become founding partners in the IIPT's Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism with the aim of "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" in support of the UN Decade for Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

The Global Summit on Peace through Tourism included the launching of a Global Peace Parks Project at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism, on the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th month in the first year of the new Millennium. The Global Peace Parks Project builds on the foundations of IIPT's "Peace Parks Across Canada" project commemorating Canada's 125th anniversary as a nation in 1992. Four hundred cities and towns across Canada, from St. John's Newfoundland on the Atlantic, to Victoria, British Columbia on the shores of the Pacific, dedicated a park to peace, each with a 'Bosco Sacro' (Peace Grove) of 12 trees as a symbolic link to one another and as a symbol of hope for the future.

Prior to founding the IIPT, Mr. D'Amore was President of L. J. D'Amore & Associates, a Canadian consultancy with clients that included all levels of government and major private sector companies in various industry sectors including airlines, hotel chains, a national railroad, and developers. In 1976, he conducted the first study in North America on the future of tourism following which his consultancy introduced 'TOURSCAN' - an on-going research project on the future of tourism serving Canada's key organizations in travel and tourism both public and private.

Mr. D'Amore has been a pioneer in promoting a social and environmental ethic within the travel and tourism industry since the mid-70s and in 1992, following the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Summit), Mr. D'Amore developed the world's first Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism for the Canadian tourism industry. He also developed the Guidelines for the Pacific Asia Travel Association GreeenLeaf Program and was a consultant to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP} in identifying the state of the art in Codes of Conduct for Sustainable Tourism.

His consulting experience includes working with governments and the private sector in a range of areas including: community development, social impact assessment, public participation, social aspects of environmental and resource planning, cultural/heritage development, and conflict resolution with an emphasis on win-win solutions.

Peace Through Tourism Summit in Amman, Jordan
His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan hosted a Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism in 2000 organized by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) with American Express as Title Sponsor. The world meeting, held shortly before the late King Hussein's birthday, honored the monarch's legacy as a peacemaker in the middle East and his commitment to expanding tourism to the region as a means of building a lasting peace. Continued below

Continued from top of page

In making the announcement, His Majesty King Abdullah II said, "The peaceful environment that we enjoy in Jordan today makes my country a natural home for Global Summit 2000. Through the Summit, we build bridges to connect mankind and recognize the importance of understanding the diverse cultures that we are today. The Summit is dedicated to the commitment my late father King Hussein made to instill mutual understanding and peace among people in this region and in the global village. For Jordan, the travel industry is a vitally important dimension of sustainable growth. It can be the engine to move ahead as the new millennium dawns."

The Summit plans were announced at a press conference with Harvey Golub, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express Company, who will deliver a keynote address at the Summit. His Excellency Akel Bitaji, Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and Louis D'Amore, founder and president of IIPT were on hand, along with Michael Stolowitzky, American Express Director of International Business Development.

Mr. Golub said, "American Express is honored to play a major role in the Global Summit. While it's obvious that peace makes a difference for the travel and tourism industry, it's exciting to think that travel and tourism can also make a difference for peace." "We believe that tourism can have a profound impact on creating a climate for peace by generating economic growth and stable employment. Tourism also educates travelers about other cultures, thereby fostering understanding. While world leaders often meet to discuss opportunities for peace, it's rare that they would view a single industry as playing such a powerful role in sustaining Global Summit of Peace through Tourism Announcement peace. This Global Summit will demonstrate that the travel industry has a serious commitment to fostering peace through regional cooperation.

King Abdullah has personally invited world leaders who are dedicated to building peace to participate in the summit, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, currently Israel's Minister for Regional Cooperation and former Prime Minister, has already accepted the King's invitation to speak. H.E. Biltaji said, "We are truly honored by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism's dedication of the summit to King Hussein, and we applaud the leadership role that American Express and other travel and tourism leaders have played in building the bridges to peace through regional tourism promotion."

Louis D'Amore, founder and president of IIPT, said the Summit theme will be, "Building a Culture of Peace Through Tourism". He said the primary aims of the event were to demonstrate support of the world's largest industry for continuation of the peace process in the Middle East and other regions of the world; build global awareness for tourism as an engine for economic growth that helps establish a climate for peace; to launch a series of millennium projects focused on peace through tourism; and to lead an initiative in support of the United Nation's International Year for the Culture of Peace.

The World Travel and Tourism Councils and the World Tourism Organization endorse the Summit. Twenty prestigious international organizations have become founding members of a Coalition of Partners for World Peace Through Tourism. Among them are the Africa Travel Association, Caribbean Tourism Organization, European Travel Commission, International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, International Federation of Women Travel Organizations, Middle East and Mediterranean Travel and Tourism Association, Professional Innkeepers International, Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped, Society of Incentive Travel Executives, the International Tourism Exchange, Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Association and others. Each partner is committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of "Tourism as a Global Peace Industry" The projects will all be launched at the Global Summit. Summit sponsors, in addition to Title Sponsor, American Express, include Gold Sponsor, Air Harbour Technologies, Silver Sponsor, International Traders, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Zara Investments; Bronze Sponsors, b-there.com and Travel World News.

The IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage, and a peaceful, sustainable world. Royal Jordanian Airlines is the official air carrier for the Summit; Grand Hyatt Amman is the Summit Headquarters Hotel and International Traders, Amman, Conference Manager.

Global Summit Information Contacts IIPT - www IIPT.org 8023-253-2658, 802-253-2645 (fax),
summit@iipt.org (email)

Jordan Tourist Board, NA; www.seejordan.org,
202-244-1451,202-244-0534 (fax)
Online registration for the Global Summit. www.b-there.com/iiptglobalsummit.

 

 

Peaceful Traveler's Affirmations
At the Hilton Addis Ababa this spring, we joined Mr. Louis D'Amore's focus group to explore various concepts, including the dedication of "Peace Parks " around the World. Here in Harmony with Nature, individuals can truly call themselves Peaceful Travelers. In each of these parks, I would suggest there be a bronze plaque on which would be engraved, the Institute's Credo of the Peaceful Traveler. It is expressed in the following affirmations :

"Grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience the world and because peace begins with the individual, I affirm my personal responsibility and commitment to:
(1) Journey with an open mind and gentle heart.
(2) Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter.
(3) Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains all life.
(4) Appreciate all cultures I discover.
(5) Respect and thank my hosts for their welcome.
(6) Offer my hand in friendship to everyone I meet.
(7) Support travel services that share these views and act upon them and, by my spirit, words and actions.
(8) Encourage others to travel the world in peace."

With those thoughtful words as your guide, you are better prepared to face the world.