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The International Institute for Peace through Tourism 25th Anniversary at World Travel Market
an article by International Institute for Peace through Tourism
The International Institute for Peace through
Tourism (IIPT) proudly commemorated the 25th
anniversary of its First Global Conference:
Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace, Vancouver 1988
on the Platinum stage at World Travel Market. The
commemoration was in support of the “Great War”
Centenary with its theme of “No More War.”
click on photo to enlarge
Featured speakers included key leaders of the
travel and tourism industry who shared their
perspectives on “Building a Culture of Peace
through Tourism” and in support of the World War I
Centenary theme: “No More War.” Speakers
included: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General,
UNWTO Secretary General; David Scowsill,
President, World Travel and Tourism Council
(WTTC); Mok Singh, Immediate Past President, Skal
International; and Geoffrey Lipman, President,
International Coalition of Tourism Partners
(ICTP), and Martin Craigs, President, Pacific Asia
Travel Association (PATA)Alston Koch
Mr. Peter De Wilde, CEO of Visit Flanders, made a
special presentation on the launch of the WWI
Centenary in Flanders. As well, award winning
singer-songwriter, Alston Koch sang his song on
Climate Change.
IIPT Founder and President said, “IIPT was proud to
support the Great War Centenary with its theme of
‘No More War’ – and to have the foremost leaders of
the travel and tourism industry speaking in support
of ‘Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism.’
Co- moderators for the event were Fiona Jeffery OBE
- Former Chairman, World Travel Market and Founder
and Chairman, Just a Drop; and Anita Mendiratta,
Founder & Managing Director, CACHET Consulting.
The 25th Anniversary commemorative event also
honored individuals and organizations who have
substantially contribution to promoting a ‘Culture
of Peace through Tourism’ and further advancing
IIPT’s vision of travel and tourism becoming the
world’s first global peace industry – an industry
that promotes and supports the belief that every
traveler is potentially and ‘Ambassador for
Peace.’
Honorees were:
Hostelling International
Peace Boat
Global Volunteers
Rural Education and Development (READ) Global
Airline Ambassadors International
IUCN – UIAA Summit Team
Peace Trees Vietnam
Alex Harris
The 1988 Vancouver Conference was a watershed
event for the travel and tourism industry
introducing for the first time the concept of
Sustainable Tourism, four years prior to the Rio
Summit - and a new “higher purpose of tourism”
paradigm that includes the key role of travel and
tourism in:
- Promoting international understanding
- Collaboration among nations
- Protecting the environment and preserving
biodiversity
- Enhancing cultures and valuing heritage
- Sustainable development for all
- Poverty reduction and
- Reconciliation and healing wounds of
conflict
IIPT is most grateful to all who participated in our
celebratory 25th Anniversary event at World Travel
Market.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
How can tourism promote a culture of peace?,
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