. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .
An article from eTurboNews
Mouhamed Faouzou Deme from Senegal has made headlines in Africa, wanting to become Africa’s choice in the upcoming UN Tourism election for Secretary-General.
He is the only one of the four competing candidates for the highest UNWTO post who provided feedback to eTurboNews on the role of tourism for peace. Once Secretary-General Zurab took his helm in 2018, UNWTO’s long-year relationship with the International Institute for Peace of Tourism was eliminated, forcing IIPT chairman Louis D’Amore to cancel his carefully planned summit in Montreal. IIPT never fully recovered from this disappointment after this.
Its former Secretary-General, Dr. Taleb Rifai, fostered this unique relationship between UNWTO and IIPT. Mouhamed pledged to reinstate this, should he become Secretary-General, and responded to WTN. He stated:
Tourism stakeholders, professionals, and political actors have continued to recall the importance of placing tourism at the heart of peace and reconciliation programs to enable the sector to mobilize its capacity for action.
This is often in favor of investment, development, and social inclusion.
Adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue, and understanding promotes peace.
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How can tourism promote a culture of peace?
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Tourism is a vector of peace, respect, openness, and dialogue.
Tourism has the value of peace because it is only built and carried out in an environment of security, stability, and conviviality.
The main idea behind the concept of peace in tourism is that peace exists when people travel freely around the world.
It helps travelers to get to know new people, cultures, and values.
This experience can increase mutual understanding between people who have lived in diverse cultural contexts.
Furthermore, peace tourism aims to reduce the root causes that create situations where violence is perceived as inevitable.
It does not replace other types of tourism practices but rather aims to facilitate their improvement.
Its impact goes far beyond economic benefits. It is interesting to look at tourism as a social force rather than an industry and see how we can use it to establish a culture of peace.
Tourism connects people and the planet. It is a vector of trust and goodwill.
Understanding culture can change behavior and consolidate peace.
Tourism’s role in supporting peace is also reflected in its contribution to the fight against poverty, the preservation of culture, and protecting the environment.
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