BY TIMOTHY MARSHALL: CHAIRMAN, IIPT BOARD of DIRECTORS
REFLECTIONS ON AN IMPORTANT, UPLIFTING AND ENLIGHTENING JOURNEY – AN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Dear IIPT Family:
As we end this year, I have been asked to share some reflections on my journey with our Brother Lou D’Amore and IIPT as Board Chairman. By way of background, Lou and I met in 1990 at a Rockefeller Foundation Conference in San Francisco for 36 Thought Leaders from various disciplines across the country. By the end of the conference, a new friendship was already beginning; and subsequently led to my being a signatory to our Articles of Incorporation in Vermont in 1999, the year I also became Chairman. Over these years, I have been blessed to join Brother Lou on this most incredible journey of helping to advance the critically important work of the Institute. During this time, I have had the honor of addressing our Summits at the United Nations International Conference Center in Geneva, Switzerland; and in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It is impossible to fully capture these experiences in one article; but given all that is taking place in the world today, I believe you will agree with me that the work of the Institute is needed now more than ever. Therefore, the topic of my reflections is: “THE URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM”. I would like to begin by sharing a few lines from a poem which was authored and delivered by Dr. Maya Angelou at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in 1995. It is entitled:
“A BRAVE AND STARTLING TRUTH”
“WHEN WE COME TO IT
WHEN WE LET THE RIFLES FALL FROM OUR SHOULDERS
AND CHILDREN DRESS THEIR DOLLS IN FLAGS OF TRUCE
WHEN LAND MINES OF DEATH HAVE BEEN REMOVED
AND THE AGED CAN WALK INTO EVENINGS OF PEACE
WHEN RELIGIOUS RITUAL IS NOT PERFUMED
BY THE INCENSE OF BURNING FLESH
AND CHILDHOOD DREAMS ARE NOT KICKED AWAKE
BY NIGHTMARES OF ABUSE
WHEN WE COME TO IT
WE, THIS PEOPLE, ON THIS WAYWARD, FLOATING BODY
CREATED ON THIS EARTH, OF THIS EARTH
HAVE THE POWER TO FASHION FOR THIS EARTH
A CLIMATE WHERE EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN
CAN LIVE FREELY WITHOUT SANCTIMONIOUS PIETY
WITHOUT CRIPPLING FEAR
WHEN WE COME TO IT
WE MUST CONFESS THAT WE ARE THE POSSIBLE
WE ARE THE MIRACULOUS, THE TRUE WONDER OF THIS WORLD
THAT IS WHEN, AND ONLY WHEN
WE COME TO IT”
As I write these reflections, the human family is dealing with serious conflicts across the globe. And although the particularities are different, there were major conflicts emerging between the east and west at the time of IIPT’s founding in 1986. When launching IIPT, Brother Lou’s vision was and is to make the world’s largest industry, travel and tourism, the first global peace industry; with the belief that every traveler is potentially an ambassador for peace. Our mission is to foster initiatives that promote international understanding, collaboration among nations, protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity, enhancing cultures and valuing heritage, poverty reduction, and healing wounds of conflict— and through these initiatives, help to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world. These are the core principles that guide our work; but there are six values undergirding these principles that further clarify IIPT’s concept of Peace. For the purposes of this article, I would like to focus on three of those areas as an organizing principle to reflect on our work: peace with our creator; peace with others; and peace with nature and the earth. However, before doing that, allow me to share some additional historical context along with a few personal memories.
THE BEGINNING YEARS
LAUNCH OF SUMMITS, CONFERENCES AND CHAPTERS
As the creator and global leader of the ‘Peace Through Tourism’ movement, IIPT launched its first global conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Vancouver in 1988. The theme was: “Tourism: A Vital Force for Peace”. Eight hundred persons from sixty-eight countries were in attendance; and Pope John Paul II and U.S. President Ronald Reagan were featured in video-taped messages. The Vancouver Conference first introduced the concept of ‘Sustainable Tourism Development’ four years prior to the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Vancouver conference also introduced a new paradigm for a ‘Higher Purpose of Tourism’ which incorporated the Mission of IIPT. Today, we hear this concept espoused all over the globe. However, nearly 40 years ago when IIPT was founded, the industry’s focus was almost exclusively on economics and finance, and these concepts were very foreign.
Approximately 6 months after our first global conference, the first Caribbean conference on socially and environmentally responsible tourism was held in 1989 in the Bahamas. It featured Dr. D’Amore; along with Mr. Stanley Selingut, who established the first Caribbean eco-tourism resort based in St. John, U.S. Virgin Island; as well as representatives from Indonesia and the Pacific, who all gave case studies. This led to two subsequent conferences on eco-tourism in the Caribbean, and a major new focus on sustainable tourism by the Caribbean Tourism Organization. This initiative was spearheaded by one of our board members, Mr. Markly Wilson. It also led to the establishment of IIPT’s first Caribbean Chapter, under the direction of Ms. Diana McIntyre Pike. Among Diana’s other accomplishments, 19 Jamaican and Caribbean villages were declared as IIPT/Skal peace villages on the opening day of the UNWTO General Assembly. Each village committed themselves to promoting values of tolerance, non-violence, gender equality, human rights, youth empowerment, environmental awareness, and sustainable social and economic development.
A few years after we met, I joined Lou at IIPT’s next Conference which was held in Montreal in 1994 and featured a world class lineup of Speakers including Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya, who had the audience spellbound. This Conference was instrumental in the World Bank beginning its support for tourism projects aimed at poverty reduction in developing nations; and led to the issue of poverty reduction becoming widely recognized.
Our first Global Summit was held in Amman, Jordan in 2000. King Abdullah II was our Royal Patron; and Mr. Harvey Golub, Chairman of American Express, and Chairman of WTTC, served as our first Summit Chair. I was asked to convene our first Coalition of Partners meeting which was attended by thirty-two organizations from around the world; each of whom committed to a Millennial Project. Many good initiatives came out of this, and it is our hope to resurrect this body with a new gathering of like-minded NGO’s and other organizations going forward.
Our first African Conference was held in Nelspruit, South Africa in 2002, eight years after Mr. Mandela became President. It included a host of Ministers of Tourism throughout the African continent. One personal highlight from this Conference was Lou and I being asked by the Minister of Tourism in Mozambique (one of the Conference attendees) to travel to Maputo, the capital, immediately after the Summit, to meet with his cabinet around the issues addressed at the Summit. This was a full circle moment for me because I had been involved in the U.S. movement to advocate for self-reliance, social and economic prosperity, and equal access to independence and democracy on the African continent. I will never forget witnessing the enormous challenges this nation faced in rebuilding its society and economy under adverse conditions after having natural resources and enormous wealth expropriated. However, the spirit of Hope and Optimism among the people became a lasting memory because they believed in themselves and their future. We were blessed to share time and experiences with them.
Another great memory was participating in the Dedication of several Peace Parks around the world, including my being asked to give the Installation Prayer at the Victoria Falls Dedication. It was my first visit there, and the Falls were more majestic than I had even imagined. Then, when the Dedication Ceremony began, we witnessed one of the highest ceremonial processions I believe one could experience, led by Chief Makuni of the Toka Leya People which is native to the land on Five counties surrounding the Falls. He was followed by traditional dancers, drummers and singers invoking cultural traditions from hundreds, if not thousands of years. It was beautiful and powerful beyond description; and so was the entire ceremony.
Prior to this Dedication, Zambia’s Founding President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, invited Lou, me, the Secretary General of UNWTO and the Mayor of Lusaka to his home for an intimate breakfast, where we engaged in a most enriching discussion about the impact tourism could have on the African continent, and why peace was so important. This was particularly meaningful because this discussion was being held with one of the giants of Africa’s independence movement.
Another important memory was our Summit in Thailand in 2005. Lou and I had the opportunity to meet with His Excellency Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop, the Deputy Premier of Thailand, prior to the opening of the Summit where he gave the keynote address. During his remarks, he noted the significance of this Summit, which followed the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami. He shared how important and timely this Summit was for the region as it began to rebuild physical infrastructure, as well as relaunch its tourism sector, which was crucial to the region’s economy.
A final memory of great significance happened on our home soil in the United States. Lou and I were invited by the head of our Chapter in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Lenwood Sloan, to join in the Dedication of a life size monument on the grounds of the Pennsylvania State Capital, which was the former site of the Anti-Slavery Abolitionist Underground Railroad Movement where Frederick Douglas spoke. The “Gathering at the Crossroads” monument provides an important recognition of the history of racism as it celebrates the passing of the 15th Amendment, where African American men won the right to vote. It also recognizes the historical oppression of women as it celebrates the passing of the 19th Amendment, where women won the right to vote. This powerful monument has become a significant tourist attraction in that it both educates visitors and commemorates the historic African American community in Harrisburg and the wider Commonwealth of Pennsylvania between 1850 and 1920.
The rich experiences of my journey with Lou and the Institute are far too numerous to recount here; but I thought it was important to share a few personal memories which might provide a more intimate look into these amazing events in the Institute’s history. With that background, let us look at our first value:
PEACE WITH OUR CREATOR
IIPT has played a meaningful role in the spirituality and tourism sector— from a major conference at the site of St. Francis of Assisi’s home in Assisi, Italy… to sacred Himalaya travel and treks in Bhutan… to dedicating a global peace park at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River…to the dedication of a global peace park at the martyrs trail in Uganda, where record crowds flocked to Uganda for the 50th anniversary of the canonization of 32 Christian martyrs who were burned to death for their refusal to denounce Christianity. The Uganda Martyrs Trail was dedicated as a legacy of IIPT’s 4th African Conference and is an important tourist attraction. This event has also been designated as a national holiday in Uganda and has become a major event on the global catholic calendar.
Through these and other initiatives, IIPT has been fortunate to have interfaith forums at our events around the world. These gatherings have facilitated interfaith and intercultural dialogues. At our second global conference in Montreal, eight different religions gathered at the top of Mount Royal overlooking the City of Montreal. That conference profoundly demonstrated that when we focus on the importance of love, mutual respect, and living in peace, it becomes clear that our similarities are much greater than our differences.
PEACE WITH EACH OTHER
“Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:19
This has been the core of our work, and for nearly four decades, it has been reflected in hundreds of initiatives and events around the world. It is impossible to do this area justice, but I will try to share a brief synopsis of some of them.
IIPT has been well known for its global summits, conferences and events which have been held on every major continent of the world except Antarctica. In addition to world leaders cited previously, IIPT has been blessed with an impressive array of royalty and heads of state who have been associated with our global events. They include the King and Queen of Jordan and the Prince of Monaco; President Nelson Mandela, the first native African to hold the presidency of South Africa; Her Excellency Ms. Vigdís Finnbogadottir, the first female President of Iceland, and the first elected woman head of state in the world; the Honorable Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize winner; and H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria and President of the African Union, who now serves as the High Representative for the Horn of Africa. Various leaders of the United Nations including U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan, and celebrities such as Sir Roger Moore, British Actor, have joined our global summits. We have also hosted prominent travel and tourism executives like Mr. Bill Marriott, Executive Chairman of Marriott International; Richard North, Chief Executive Officer, Six Continents Hotel; Sir Ian Prosser, Chairman, Bass Hotels and Resorts; Peter De Jong; President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association; John Marks, Chairman, Travel Industry Association of America; Jean Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel and Tourism Council; Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the U.N. World Tourism Organization who is retired and currently serves as Chairman of our International Advisory Board; and U.S. Chung, Chairman and CEO, Federation of Korea Tourism Association, among others.
Joining these luminaries has been a wonderful gathering of major thought leaders from academia, national governments, NGO’s, the interfaith community, cultural heritage, the environmental sector, and a broad range of civic, professional, corporate and youth sectors in what we call a ‘Train the Trainers’ model. We bring the best to teach the best. Then we all learn from each other and go back to our respective countries, towns, and villages to implement strategies to achieve IIPT’s core principles and vision. While many fundamental topics are addressed, some of the non-traditional topics have included the role of culture and sports, accessible travel, volunteer travel, role of travel guides in promoting cultures of peace, trans border international peace parks, community tourism, and those that emphasize the importance of women and youth leadership and development, among others.
Over the years, we have assembled a wonderful network of industry strategic partner organizations like PATA and the Africa Travel Association who signed an historic MOU at our 2005 Summit in Thailand. This MOU promoted travel between the African and Asian continents. One of our closest partners, Skal International, has joined forces with us to establish peace cities and towns in wonderful places around the world.
Under the principle of ‘healing wounds of conflict’, one of our Board members, Don King, led an IIPT initiative to support the Al-Awon Charity in Azraq, Jordan, which provides educational services for 160 Syrian refugee children who, along with their families, fled the conflict in Syria. This special IIPT project is one way that we try to bring our principles to life and make a tangible impact in the lives of people who are hurting. The theme of our 25th Anniversary celebration at World Travel Market in London was “Building a Culture of Peace Through Tourism” and was in support of the 100th Anniversary of World War One, which was called “The Great War”. Our Theme was “War No More”. Croatia marked our 25th Anniversary with a 25-city bike tour as well as sailing on the boat of culture under the IIPT flag. Now that is one trip I wish I had made. The Croatia Cycle for Peace went from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina—two major war-torn countries and ended with a prayer for peace among all participants. This is a powerful example for IIPT because it incorporated two of our core values…peace with our Creator and peace with each other.
The world is now witnessing the tragedy that war, conflict, and famine have brought to members of the human family, especially children. For example, because of a devastating conflict, the people of Sudan will be suffering for a long time to come, and tourists will not be able to experience Sudan’s historical treasures in the near future. This is a concrete example of why peace is so crucial to tourism. The same can be said for the war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the escalating conflict in Lebanon, the Civil war in Myanmar, as well as many other parts of our global community. However, at the very moment this article is being written, headlines are showing that there is a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
IIPT’s work in peace, reconciliation and development was featured when the Olympic Truce Campaign was launched at the 2016 Olympics in Rio; and during the UNWTO Conference in Sri Lanka, which had been a war zone for 30 years prior to the event. Today it is an example of how people affected by conflict have picked up the pieces and rebuilt their lives. This conference would not have taken place there, nor would the significant economic benefits have been realized for their people if there was no peace.
In 2015, IIPT honored three great men of peace posthumously: President Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our Global Symposium in South Africa. This symposium was held at Emperor’s Palace, the site where the transfer of power from the apartheid regime to the new Mandela led government took place. The families of these great men and the government of India accepted the awards on their behalf. That same year, IIPT’s work was also featured as a key path forward at the world summit on sustainable tourism in Spain which focused on climate change, global income inequality and the growing threat of terrorism, where Dr. D’Amore was a keynote speaker. These are just a few examples of some of our global initiatives.
However, in addition to bringing leaders together for summits and conferences, IIPT also takes policy positions on critical issues and global developments.
One example of this can be seen on our website where we issued a statement in support of peace in Ukraine. This was done in support of and in solidarity with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UNWTO in calling for peace and diplomacy rather than war and atrocities. Also, the issue of sexual violence has been brought to the forefront by Ms. Claire McFarlane, an IIPT Ambassador, who shed important light on this topic at her running campaign in South Africa and other events. Moreover, we were excited that our focus on cultural heritage was the impetus for the creation of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, which was conceived at our Global Summit in Amman in 2000 and then announced at our first African Conference in 2002.
The Institute has also cited a major study on the impact of war on children. This study, which can be found on our website, cites that hundreds of thousands of children die in war each year as civilians caught in the violence, as combatants directly targeted, or during ethnic cleansing. Other children are victims of injury, disability, illness, rape and prostitution, psychological suffering, and other social and cultural atrocities. We believe that education and data are critical to our advocacy and support. We also cited a WTTC report which was issued with the Institute of Economics and Peace. This report quantified the positive correlation between tourism and peace.
IIPT also cited a PATA study entitled “How Travel and Tourism Benefits from Peace-A Statistical Analysis of the Asian Experience”. The report examines how peace, democracy, and ending geopolitical conflicts can facilitate tourism growth, build stronger economies, reduce class disparities, alleviate poverty, and allow people to develop a better understanding of each other. These three studies are a testament to the founding principles and underlying values of IIPT, and they confirm our teachings of nearly four decades.
Finally, our third value:
‘PEACE WITH NATURE AND THE EARTH’
This can be seen in almost everything we have done; but can most directly be seen through the dedication of over 450 global peace parks in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This initiative was launched in Canada on its 125th Birthday with 350 peace parks across Canada. It has now spread to six of the seven continents around the world. In addition to Victoria Falls, a world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the world located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, IIPT has dedicated a major global peace park at the renown Puer National Park in China, along with the dedication of a global town of peace in the Danzhai Wanda village of China, which is an international tourism destination dedicated to poverty reduction.
We also dedicated a peace park at the United Nations International Conference Center in Geneva, Switzerland- following our global summit in 2003. A final example is our international peace park in Medellin, Columbia, which was dedicated during the UNWTO General Assembly. Given Medellin’s history as a notorious place of violence, having been once dubbed “the murder capital of the world”, this was a very significant achievement.
One of our most impactful initiatives regarding peace with nature was the hosting of one of the world’s earliest global summits on Climate Change in Lusaka, Zambia in 2011. This Summit brought together some of the top thought leaders and practitioners from every major sector around the world and led to the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration which is housed at the United Nations. The findings have also been published by Cambridge Scholars Publishers and include case studies and models of best practices and adaptation practices from various sectors of the industry. I believe history will show that the leadership of Lou D’Amore and IIPT in this area has been prescient; both in its profound analysis and recommendations to mitigate the future impact climate disasters could have on the earth, as well as the potential effects of environmental injustice on developing countries around the world.
During the dedication of our peace park at Victoria Falls, Mr. Ben Sherman, Chairman of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, noted that for centuries, Indigenous people have honored the principle of reciprocity with nature: Mother Earth gives, and we must take care of the earth. Unfortunately, humanity still has much to learn and much work to do. Through our global peace parks initiative, thousands of trees have been planted around the world. It is our hope that this will make at least a small contribution to reversing the damage of Climate Change in the decades to come.
THE BUILDING OF A WONDERFUL FAMILY
During the month of September 2023, I was pleased to Chair our Global Strategic Planning Retreat in New York where members of the IIPT Family gathered to begin the process of transitioning from Lou’s presidency to Ajay Prakash becoming the newly elected President of the Institute. The weekend began on Friday evening with food and drinks in a beautiful setting on the Hudson River as family members were welcomed to New York and celebrated being together once again.
It continued Saturday with a day of strategic planning, and ended with a wonderful dinner at Kellari Restaurant, a delectable, elegant Greek Restaurant which was secured by Ms. Nikki Rose. This is the site where the Baton was officially passed. Our Founder, Dr. Louis D’Amore, was presented with a “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” from The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States of America, by Mr. John Dickson. He was also presented with a “CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION” from the Global Peace Foundation Philippines by Mr. Brian J. Grim, Founding President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation. The weekend culminated with a worship service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where the Archbishop of Canterbury was the special guest, and who graciously came over to meet our delegation.
None of IIPT’s extraordinary accomplishments would have been possible without the brilliant, dedicated team that is the heart and soul of the Institute. Only Lou D’Amore could pull together such an impressive array of talent and brain power and keep this group together through a shared commitment to values, principles, hopes and dreams for a peaceful world. This includes loyal Board members: Lou D’Amore, Markly Wilson, Don King, our new President, Ajay Prakash, and me.
And with this last issue of the year, I am most honored to announce the Board election of our new Executive Director, Mr. Andreas Larentzakis; along with the formal election of Ms. Bea Broda as Editor of the IIPT Newsletter. This Team will be working alongside our phenomenal and masterful group of Chapter Presidents: Ms. Diana McIntyre Pike, Caribbean; Ms. Gail Parsonage, Australia; Mr. Maga Ramasamy, Indian Ocean; Ms. Mamasatsi Ramawela and Ms. Bunny Bhoola, Southern Africa; Mr. Kiran Yadav, India; Mr. Jovan Popeksu, Serbia; and Mr. Lenwood Sloan, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We are also indebted to our International Advisory Board: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman; and members Dr. Patrick Kalifungwa, Ms. Kathy Sudeikis, Mr. Bob Zimmer and Ms. Anastacia Mann. Moreover, we salute our dedicated, esteemed partners Mr. Juergen Steinmetz and Mr. John Dickson; along with our Global Ambassadors: Mr. Fabio Carbone, Mr. Phillipe Francois, Ms. Anita Mendiratta, Mr. Ben Sherman (posthumously), Ms. Haybina Hao ; and our dear Friends who have made major, invaluable contributions over the years: Dr. Babs Onabanjo, Ms. Nikki Rose, Ms. Kathleen Pond, Ms. Kitty Pope, Ms. Judy Karwacki, Ms. Fiona Jeffery, Mr. Max Haberstroh, Mr. Steve DeVoss, Mr. Mathieu, Hoeberigs, and Mr. Franz Rolinck.With this extraordinary bounty of family and friends
who have remained committed to this high calling of ‘Peace Through Tourism,” we have a powerful foundation upon which to build the Institute’s tremendously bright future. To help launch this future in 2025, we would like to call the entire IIPT Global Family together for a ZOOM FAMILY MEETING on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025 (Time TBD); so please Save The Date.
As I prepare to close these reflections, it seems appropriate to return to our beginning days where the ‘CREDO OF THE PEACEFUL TRAVELER’ became our anchor:
“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:
JOURNEY WITH AN OPEN MIND AND HEART
ACCEPT WITH GRACE AND GRATITUDE THE DIVERSITY I ENCOUNTER
REVERE AND PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH SUSTAINS ALL
LIFE
APPRECIATE ALL CULTURES I DISCOVER
RESPECT AND THANK MY HOSTS FOR THEIR WELCOME
OFFER MY HAND IN FRIENDSHIP TO EVERYONE I MEET
SUPPORT TRAVEL SERVICES THAT SHARE THESE VIEWS AND ACT UPON
THEM AND BY MY SPIRIT, WORDS AND ACTIONS, ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO
TRAVEL THE WORLD IN PEACE.”
That is what we have dedicated ourselves to for nearly four decades.
And that is our HOPE and URGENT IMPERATIVE for the future.
Thank you for all you do, selflessly, to make this world a better place, day in and day out.
As we celebrate this season of Love, Joy and Peace; the ending of a long and oftentimes painful year in world events; and the promises and possibilities of a new year; let us keep pressing on to higher ground and recommit ourselves to the vision, values and principles of IIPT which the world so desperately needs.
HAPPY HOLIDAY BLESSINGS AND LOVE, AND HERE’S WISHING YOU A PEACEFUL, HEALTHY AND MOST PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!
Timothy H. Marshall
Chairman
IIPT Board of Directors
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