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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. International Institute for
Peace Through Toursim: Decade of Peace and
Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Feedback suggests
that all those involved with the Summit can be
proud in achieving a remarkable event, creating
inspiration and motivation to continue moving
forward towards the vision of ÒTourism as a
Global Peace Industry and the belief that Every
traveler is potentially an Ambassador for
Peace. IIPT and WTTC
would like to wholeheartedly thank all who took
part for your most valuable contribution to its
success and look forward to your continued
participation and involvement. Her Majesty Queen
Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan was Royal Patron of the Summit and Sir Roger
Moore, spokesperson for UNICEF, the featured
keynote speaker. H.E. Akel Biltaji, Chief
Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA), Jordan, was Master of
Ceremonies. Other keynote
speakers included Hon. Jennifer Smith, Premier of
Bermuda; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, World
Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC); Amb. Anwarul
Chowdhury, U.N. Under Secretary General for Least
Developed Countries; Hon. Jim Bacon, MHA, Premier
of Tasmania; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary
General, World Tourism Organization (WTO); Rubens
Ricupero, Secretary General, United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD);
Richard North, CEO, Six Continents Hotels; H.E. Dr.
Bassem Awadallah, Minister of Planning, Jordan;
H.E. Roni Milo, Minister of Regional Cooperation,
Israel; Setyanto Santosa, Executive Chairman,
Indonesia Culture and Tourism Board (ICTB);
Anastasia Mann, Chairman, Corniche Travel Group;
Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP, President, Africa
Travel Association and Minister of Natural
Resources and Tourism, Tanzania; John Marks,
Chairman, Travel Industry Association of America;
Peter De Jong, President, Pacific Travel
Association and Demba Ba, Manager, Private Sector
Development, Africa Region, World Bank. Major sponsors of
the Summit were Six Continents Hotels, Bermuda
Department of Tourism, Indonesia Culture and
Tourism Board, Aqaba Special Economic Zone
Authority, Moevenpick Hotels, and Reed Travel
Exhibitions. Several media sponsors assisted in
promoting the Summit including eTurbo
News. Summit content and
input will form the basis for the next stage of
IIPTÕs development and forming strategic
alliances to implement programs that contribute to
a ÒCulture of Peace through Tourism.Ó
In this context, we are particularly honored by the
alliance that has been formed with RCI. IIPT Achievement
Awards The IIPT has
established a tradition of acknowledging and
honoring outstanding achievements that contribute
to international understanding, cooperation and
peace. Three such
achievements were recognized at the Geneva Summit
in a special Awards Luncheon: The first award
was presented posthumously to the late Hon. David
H. Allen for his inspired launching of the
ÒAfrica Diaspora Heritage TrailÓ
Ð an idea that was conceived by Hon. David H.
Allen at the First Global Summit in Geneva,
November 2000. In his own words,
ÒThe aim of the Africa Diaspora Heritage
Trail is to identify, conserve, and promote
historic sites linked with the development and
progress of people of Africa descent.Ó The
award was received by Hon. Jennifer M. Smith,
Premier of Bermuda. The Second Award
was presented to the IUCN Ð UIAA Summit Team
that climbed several peaks in the Swiss Alps during
the summer of 2002 in recognition of the
Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region being granted
world heritage status. The mountain climbing team
included mountaineers from India and Pakistan, and
a quadruple amputee. The purpose of the climb was
to promote international cooperation through sport
and to encourage the creation of trans-boundary
peace zones, in particular for the Siachen Glacier
between India and Pakistan. The third award
was presented to H.E. Dr. Bassem Awadallah,
Minister of Planning, Jordan, and H.E. Roni Milo,
Minister of Regional Cooperation, Israel for their
collaboration in preserving the Dead Sea. The Dead
Sea has great meaning to the three cultural and
religious traditions, Christianity, Islam and
Judaism. The Dead Sea will be saved by a pipeline
moving water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
Water from the pipeline will be desalinated and
distributed to the region. Palestine will also be a
partner in the project. OUTCOMES PART
1 IIPT as a
Convening and Information Forum There are
currently hundreds of very positive initiatives
underway by members of the industry and related
sectors. By creating an information forum, IIPT can
serve as a conduit whereby organizations that are
currently working in isolation will be able to
identify other organizations with similar or
complementing goals and become far more effective
by collaborating in the achievement of their
objectives. The convening
power of IIPT was emphasized and IIPT encouraged to
bring together the many travel organizations and
groups that have positive initiatives underway. A
global web or resources and forum for collaboration
can serve for further development of bold
initiatives that contribute to a better world for
all. The sustainable
tourism projects presented at the Summit should
form part of an interactive website to which other
sustainable tourism development projects are added
and made available to a wide audience. This would
enable students, academics, practioners,
consultants, and policy makers Ð once
challenged by the concepts of ÒPeace through
Tourism, can have a ready resource from which to
learn more. It was also
suggested that IIPT become a member of the U.N.
Global Compact established by UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan in July 2002. The Compact challenges
business leaders to promote and apply nine
principles in the field of human rights, labor and
the environment. . Need for
Partnering Countries that are
particularly successful destinations such as
Bermuda and the Maldives, have a record of
government Ð private sector Ð labor Ð
civil society collaboration. In the Maldives, this
extends to efforts towards poverty reduction. These
models of success recognize the importance of
elevating tourism as a national priority and
involving all Ministers who are members of the
Cabinet to take an active interest in tourism Ð
particularly Ministers of Education, Foreign
Affairs, Labor, Energy, Environment, Natural
Resources, Transportation, Finance, and Economic
Development. A longer term objective would be to
have an expert in tourism in all departments to
assist in policy formulation and the capacity to
develop the industry. IIPT can be the
instrument to bring this knowledge Ð and these
models from Bermuda and the Maldives Ð to
governments. A further
suggestion was that IIPT create a
ÒframeworkÓ whereby it could work
with its partners as one united organization to
promote its ideas at a higher political level so
that those ideas can have a real impact.
ÒIIPT has the power to change things and
simply needs to exercise that power. Communications IIPT needs to gain
more visibility internationally. A media strategy
is required to promote the concept and vision of
ÒPeace through TourismÓ Ð a
collective strategy that is consumer focused. There
is an opportunity to brand the concept of
ÒPeace through TourismÓ in
advertising. ÒIt can come from e.g. San
Francisco Ð from Bali Ð from anywhere in
the world Ð and be something that ties us
together with a unified message, utilizing media
where we are buying space and time. There is also the
opportunity to leverage the equity in global brands
such as ISTY, FIYTO, IYH, and AISEC to carry
forward the message of ÒPeace through
Tourism.Ó Media outreach by
all delegates and IIPT members is important to
achieving a global impact. Representatives of the
media suggested using wire services and local
reporters and mentioning that they are a member of
IIPT Ð and mention other notable success
stories as well. IIPT itself should become
associated with significant projects of PR
value. IIPT should
develop on-going relationships with key members of
the media as ÒMedia Partners.Ó One
such partner is eTurbo News that publishes
IIPTÕs monthly newsletters Ð reaching
160,000 travel professionals in 212 countries. More
than 30,000 responses have been received to the
newsletters. Channels to Travel
Agents Ð and through them Ð the promotion
of IIPTÕs Credo of the Peaceful Travel Ð
are important in reaching consumers. The IIPT Credo
of the Peaceful Traveler could be a vehicle for
gaining greater visibility. It should be promoted
as well among travel suppliers, travel related
media, airlines, hotels, and theme parks. Criteria
need to be established for organizations to display
the Credo. IIPT is currently
represented on the Board of the American Tourism
Society and takes an active role in the Africa
Travel Association and increasingly the three
largest youth travel organizations Ð
International Youth Hostels, Federation of
International Youth Travel Organizations, and
International Student Travel Federation. It should
also participate in several other key international
organizations to continue spreading the word of
Peace through Tourism as far and wide as
possible. Regional
Conferences should be organized to further spread
the word in all regions of the world recognizing
that many interested persons are not able to afford
costs of attending the Global Summits. Education Education featured
prominently in many of the SummitÕs
sessions. It is clear that education at all levels,
utilizing a range of delivery systems including
distance learning programs, is essential in
ÒEducating for a Culture of Peace through
TourismÓ and the goal of sustainable tourism
development. IIPT should
coordinate a Forum on Education, bringing together
key stakeholders Areas that should
be considered by the Forum include: ¥ Educational
programs that bring the tourism concept to student
bodies so that young people might see it as a
career. ¥
Highlighting the importance of tourism to the
economies of destination through schools, training
facilities, PR campaigns, etc. ¥ Nurture and
facilitate the development of university level
courses and programs on ÒPeace through
TourismÓ such as the Masters Program
currently being developed at WICE,
Netherlands. ¥ A
ÒClearing HouseÓ for educational
resources for curriculum development on
ÒPeace through TourismÓ topics in CD
ROM and web accessible formats for college and
university tourism curriculum uses including sample
curricular programs, IIPT selected papers, peace
education selected papers, learning exercises and
useful web links. ¥ Use of
electronic networks and distance learning to share
educational resources and stimulate transnational
cooperation. ¥ Data banks
for internships, service learning opportunities,
student and faculty exchanges, and study abroad
opportunities Ð particularly linking developed
with developing country universities and
organizations. ¥ Guidelines
for the conduct of study abroad experiential
learning activities across disciplines. ¥ Adult and
continuing education in ÒBuilding a Culture
of Peace though TourismÓ and sustainable
tourism. ¥ How can
travel be used to enhance learning and break
pre-conceptions and stereotypes presented in the
media? ¥ Responsible
travel and cultural information resources to
prepare travelers in advance of their trip and to
prepare local business and citizens to be
culturally aware hosts. ¥
Incorporating ethical travel guidelines in
publications of each region of the
world. ¥
Opportunities for members of the IIPT Educators
Network to represent and present papers regarding
IIPT and Peace through Tourism at their
professional conferences. ¥ Fund
raising to implement the priority programs
identified by the Forum. Industry
Involvement ÒOne of the
imperatives of IIPT is to engage more hotels to
actually go out and do the community capacity
building that will contribute to poverty reduction
and an improved quality of life in host
communities.Ó The importance of practical
strategies to engage hotels towards this end, and
to give them the means by which they can do it was
emphasized. Hoteliers should be encouraged to talk
with the leaders of their community to determine
the three main needs and set strategies in place to
help meet those needs. An ÒAcademy
for HoteliersÓ was suggested that examined
communities in a holistic way recognizing that all
communities are living patterns of
relationships. Student/Youth
Participation Delegates were
inspired by the enthusiasm of students at the
Summit. It was suggested that IIPT should foster
closer links between students and the Coalition of
Partners to benefit from their energy and creative
ideas. A large majority
of student delegates were from developing
countries. Improved and consolidated information
and facilitating information links and resources
would be tremendously helpful; a central website
that students through out the world Ð including
the more than 30 million students and young people
traveling with IYH, ISTC and FIYO - once challenged
by the ideas and ideals of ÒPeace through
TourismÓ can refer to and learn more about
the types of experiences presented and discussed at
the Geneva Summit. An IIPT Young
Professionals Network was launched in Geneva in
recognition of the creative and dynamic
contribution that the growing number of young
professionals in the industry can make in
contributing to a ÒCulture of Peace through
Tourism.Ó The Young Professionals
NetworkÓ will also provide a membership
niche for student chapter members upon graduation
and employment in the industry. Poverty
Reduction The alleviation of
poverty received considerable attention during the
Summit. Various ÒPro-Poor TourismÓ
initiatives are currently underway including the
STEP program of the World Tourism Organization, and
Fair Trade in Tourism. It was suggested
that IIPT should
develop facilitation mechanisms with other
international tourism organizations and
international donor agencies that target
sustainable community tourism in rural areas of
developing countries in a manner that addresses
both poverty reduction and the
environment. ÒThe way
forward is to focus on capacity building and a
business environment conducive to investment that
enables the nurturing of SMEÕs and
microenterprise.Ó Initiatives also need to
be linked with existing economic enterprise such as
farming and fishing to achieve sustainable
community development. The Internet must
become much more available to developing countries
so that they can be linked to world markets. An
information center or data base of tourism
SMEÕs and microenterprise should be linked
to existing networks for marketing purposes.
Creativity will be required to differentiate among
tourism products and the encouragement of niche
markets. For example, some of the mountainous
regions of the world are also the poorest regions
of the world. Ecotourism, Mountain Tourism,
Trekking and Mountaineering can provide attractive
poverty reduction opportunities in these
areas. IIPT should
facilitate the development of pilot projects among
members of the donor community to put these ideas
into practice. IIPT should also
have an infrastructure whereby the needs of various
countries can be found by Tour Operators and others
who wish to provide an opportunity for their
clients to contribute to meeting those needs as
part of their travel experience. Efforts should be
made to promote such opportunities among all Tour
Operators. Volunteer
Tourism Global Volunteers
is a not for profit organizations that each year
has teams of volunteers sent all over the world at
the invitation of various international
organizations and communities. A real need was
expressed to link with other like-minded
organizations through IIPT. ÒStated simply
Ð Global Volunteers has opportunities that need
volunteers. Other organizations such as Ambassadair
have volunteers that need opportunities.Ó
IIPT can serve a real need by serving as an
information forum for other organizations
interested in volunteer humanitarian projects and
poverty reduction. ÒAs
volunteers work hand in hand with each other and
with members of the local community, they discover
that we are more alike than we are different; that
they have friends where they never thought they
might; and that in the final analysis Ð
friendship is what breeds peace in the world, and a
better life on our planet. Youth
Travel The Panel, "Youth
Travel Ð Tomorrow's Leaders Building
International Understanding and Peace" was in
effect a Summit within a Summit with the CEO's of
the world's three largest youth travel
organizations participating. Each year, these three
youth travel organizations serve more than 30
million young people. International Youth Hostel
Federation (IYHF), the Federation of Youth Travel
Organizations (FIYTO), and International Student
Travel Confederation (ISTC) are each committed to
collaborating with one another and IIPT in
promoting international understanding and peace
through youth Travel. The first World Youth Travel
Forum will be held in October, 2003 in Thailand
with more than 1,000 youth travel experts and
professionals participating. The Conference will
include a session on Youth Travel for Peace and
International Understanding. International
Youth Hostels has already launched a program on
ÒHostelling for Peace and International
Understanding,Ó and IYH Ð American Youth
Hostels has begun implementation of ÒOpening
Doors Ð Opening MindsÓ a campaign of
scholarships, education and public awareness. Some
500,000 youth will be involved annually - incoming
and outgoing with partners that include airlines
and Internet providers. Funding
Support Delegates
recognized that the above initiatives require
support of the industry in terms of collaboration
and funding to make possible the appropriate
staffing and infrastructure development. A
combination of fund raising initiatives are being
considered. Sustaining Partners, Sponsors and
contributions are invited. Contact:
<mailto:sponsor@iipt.org>sponsor@iipt.org International Institute for
Peace Through Toursim: Corporate Council on
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