Iran Archives - International Institute For Peace Through Tourism IIPT

Iran-Iraq Peace Through Tourism

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:16:37 +0000

Tourism is a global phenomenon, multidimensional and with profound effects that countries around the world face by reopening their borders. Tourists gain new experiences and knowledge by interacting with other cultures, regions and countries, and understand the importance of improving their relationships with each other. The presence of visitors in any country affects the life pattern of indigenous people. Visitors are also influenced by the culture of the host country and its values.

The growth of the tourism industry is associated with positive and negative economic, social, cultural and even environmental effects in the tourist community. Therefore, to creating balance in tourism, it required to adopt principles policies through planning and management, to have positive impacts more than the deterrent effects.

Tourism can enhance understanding and acceptance among the communities and different group members, and consequently reduces intergroup or community prejudice, tension, and conflict. So, it is the only industry that is directly related to peace, tranquillity and friendship between peoples and cultures.

According to many researchers, De-escalating Conflicts is one of the most serious approaches in tourism policy. Although it may seem that the main role in the decision of countries to de-escalate tensions is taken by leaders and politicians. But people can also play a role in adopting and pursuing this policy. When individuals change their perceptions of host countries, they create the conditions for leaders to decide to change their approach to that country; Because the decisions of leaders are influenced by public opinion in society. Tourism has been identified for the opportunities it provides for social contact to occur.

The tourism industry has the potential to influence international relations. Tourism and travel are a tool for public diplomacy and international development and powerful response to global challenges and terrorism. This industry not only benefits from peace but is itself a vital force for the spread of peace among nations.

Tourism is defined, as a tool to strengthen national identity, sustainability, national solidarity at the community level and internationally to civilizations, a friendship of nations and world peace. This define shows the potentiality of resolving social and political conflicts between Neighboring countries through tourism cooperation.

Tourism: Path of Peace

The modern world cannot be imagined without contacts, both intergovernmental and interpersonal. Because of this, countries experiencing bilateral political problems or chronic conflicts like Iran and Iraq, cannot avoid commercial relations between them, even by informal ways or through the mediation of other countries.

The credibility of the tourism sector can be imagined with the socio-economic effects and the potential for resolving disputes and chronic disputes between border countries through tourism cooperation.

Iran and Iraq comprise an ideal case study for the role of tourism in conflict solution and peace. Since they are two cross border countries having political conflicts even fought each other for 8 years, but, at the same time, they had subscription commercial relations. Both countries have paid a lot of expense in many years ago to defend their dignity, honor, and land. With the fall of Saddam and the Ba’ath party in Iraq, after two years of silence, the two countries restore diplomatic relations for the first time since the war, then agreed to issue visas to pilgrims.

Both countries offer similar tourist product (history, civilization, nature, food, entertainment, etc.) and have become closer by tourism activities.

The cancellation of the Arbaeen Hosseini ceremony visa has economic and security benefits, and the high number of Arbaeen pilgrims caused the two countries’ economies to flourish. Every year, more than 3 million Iranian pilgrims take part in the magnificent 20-million pilgrimage to Arbaeen and travel to Karbala. Iran and Iraq are working to register the Arbaeen Walk as a world record.

Also, demand for the pilgrimage to Imam Reza in Iran by Iraqi tourists raised among the Ahl al-Bayt fanatics. So, pilgrimage tours to Iran and Iraq have been facilitated in recent years.

The abolition of visa fees for travel to Iran and Iraq, the speed of visa issuance in Iranian embassies in neighboring countries and the lack of visa stickers in passports due to the electronic issuance of Iranian visas are important reasons for increasing the willingness of Iraqis to travel to Iran on vacation.

On the other hand, Tourism in Iraq has also flourished in recent years thanks to the presence of Iranian tourists. Statistics show that the tourism industry in Iraq is the country’s largest source of income, after oil. Every year, millions of pilgrim’s travels to Karbala, Najaf, Samarra, and Baghdad to visit Shiite religious sites. Meanwhile, most of the foreign tourists who go to Iraq are Iranians. On the eve of Shiite religious occasions, up to 10,000 Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq daily.

Iraq is a war-torn country. Its healthcare infrastructure is in serious trouble. The lack of specialized medical personnel in Iraq has created, a good opportunity for Iraqi tourists to be able to use the capacities and attractions of tourism, as well as the facilities and medical equipment and the health sector of Iran. 17% of the population of two million Iraqi tourists in Iran is dedicated to health tourism.

Increasing communication between these two, especially through travel and direct observation, can counteract much misinformation. The presence of tourists in a country and familiarity with the various manifestations of that country is important because after returning to their country, they have to carry the correct knowledge and evaluation for their compatriots. They are a reliable medium to advertise for the host country. By creating more communication, empathy and contact between different cultures, tourism can turn enmities into friendships and understandings and help promote world peace and stability by creating mutual understanding between nations.

With the existence of conflicting political, economic and ideological systems between countries, there is believe that ideological differences and political tastes should not be allowed to affect the relationship between countries. The mutual understanding and trust atmosphere must be created in bilateral and multilateral relations to replace fear and suspicion.

Conflict solution policy seeks to establish peaceful relations between Iran and Iraq by recognizing the current situation. In other words, Conflict solution means turning to a foreign policy based on compatibility, coexistence and cooperation in relations with other countries. Such diplomacy seeks to develop relations with countries in the international arena by following the principles of coexistence, cooperation and convergence based on trust and goodwill, instead of hostile and confrontational relations, leading to a system of international peace.

It is clear that the development of religious and health tourism as a basic vehicle for promoting understanding and trust among these two nationalities require an appropriate political and economic framework. In the end, tourism and travel plays the role of an engine for development in post-conflict peace in this part of the middle east.

Tourism: The Key Instrument for Peace

Tourism is a magical instrument for peace and democracy in today’s world. If managed effectively, tourism has the potential to promote sustainable development, fostering peace and stability within and between nations, even in the most sensitive environments and fragile communities of our world. Evaluating the case of Iraq and Iran, two neighbouring countries with various conflicts from time to time, now they have the chance to evaluate the importance of tourism in their relations and in the growth of their tourism market share.

Tourism destinations do not select people to travel to that destination, so there may be abuses in this great economic and cultural activity that is not by the tastes and values of society. Therefore, it is possible to manage the destination by monitoring, informing the host and guest community and observing the international codes of tourism ethics, so that the waste of such cases is minimized.

While the rift between the Iran and Iraq communities is undeniable, but the active role of the tourism sector and its importance towards possible cooperation between them becomes very clear.

The positive and effective points of tourism and the role it can play in resolving tensions should not be disregarded.

By Fatemeh Salimi

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Nowrooz Message from Fabio Carbone ambassador at large of IIPT Iran

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:59:05 +0000

Nowrooz Message from Fabio Carbone
ambassador at large of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT)
and founder of the IIPT-Iran Chapter.

Video Message of nowrooz

My dear friends and colleagues in Iran. My fellow Iranians in all over the world: nowrooz
mobarak!

As every year, I take a moment in this important day to send you my best wishes for the new year, also on behalf of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism, which I have the honour to represent as ambassador-at-large, and in particular those of the Iranian Chapter of the Institute. This year, however, for obvious reasons, any message for the new year sounds like a bitter sweet symphony.

It’s an unusual New Year’s Eve, in which all of us are locked in our homes (and we have to do it!). It’s a new year marked by uncertainty, dismay, and unfortunately for some of us, marked even by mourning. Well, in this very difficult situation, our message is to be positive and to be proactive.

In particular, I would like to make a consideration with you: governments worldwide, media experts are inviting all of us to maintain social distance, in order to reduce the possibility of contagion. But beware: it’s the physical, spatial distance that we need in this moment. While we need more than ever a strong social proximity!!!

Solidarity, mutual assistance and support. Luckily new technologies allow us to stay close, even if distant! And who better than you, Iranian people, represents these wonderful values of social proximity? So once again we look at you as a model, once again we admire you.

Hold on, for this will pass, and we will be stronger and better than before! Hopefully the world will take this time of standby to reflect on many aspects of our life, to improve them. Among others, why not eventually review the idea of Tourism, in order to enhance its ability to create and maintain peace among peoples, peace with mother earth, peace with the past, peace with future generations, peace with ourselves. Hold on Iran, you are the most beautiful flower in the world.

Doostetoon darim, dar kenare shoma istadeh im! (we love you, and we stand by you!
Nowrooz mobarak. Happy New Year!

Fabio Carbone
Ambassador at large of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT)
Founder of the IIPT-Iran Chapter

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Importance of the presence of women in tourism

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 13:44:59 +0000

The IIPT Iran Chapter claims the importance of the presence of women in tourism industry in a message during the meeting of the Iranian Association of Women in Tourism.

Association of Iranian Women in Tourism

It was an amazing evening in Tehran. A full house for the important meeting of the Iranian Association of Women in Tourism, where Fabio Carbone, ambassador at large of the International institute for peace through Tourism (IIPT) and head of the IIPT – Iran Chapter was invited. After the ordinary greetings to the audience and, in particular, his thanks to Dr. Fatemi, Dr. Ghiami for giving him the opportunity to join the event, Fabio Carbone started his speech by expressing his genuine admiration for the work developed by the association. Then, his compelling and wholehearted speech started. Following, an excerpt from his speech on behalf of IIPT and IIPT-Iran Chapter:

Dr. Fabio Carbone taking about women in tourism

“Women in tourism. Women in tourism in Iran. This is a debate of great interest and importance for a country like Iran which, despite numerous internal and external difficulties, is heading towards a bright future. I am sure of it! And what is the link between the debate about women in tourism and peace through tourism? Well, there is a strong connection, indeed!

When we talk about peace, we are not just talking about friendly relations between states, but also about what is called “inner peace”, the peace we build inside ourselves. This is extremely important in the broader context of peace creation: how could we be in peace and harmony with others if we are not in peace with ourselves? One of the main pillars of inner peace is, without any doubt, the individual’s self-fulfillment and development. For everyone! And this is also one of the conditions for human development, that aim to enlarge people’s opportunities and improving their well-being. We can thus say that you all at the Iranian Association of Women in Tourism, are actively working, first and foremost, for the achievement of inner peace. And this is, in my eyes, where your work meets our work at the International Institute for peace Through Tourism (IIPT).

Keeping all this in mind, the IIPT and in particular the IIPT-Iran Chapter is indeed keen to promote the success and affirmation of women in tourism. In this sense I had recently proposed a workshop on this topic, Women in Tourism in Iran, and we are currently working on it in collaboration with some specialist from the University of Tehran and with our important partner, the Museum of Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense in Tehran. And I take the opportunity of my presence here to officially invite you to join us and actively participate in this event.

I have been to Iran several times, and I have the privilege of working with many of your colleagues, women in tourism. Narges, Atieh, Sammie, Sarah, Fazileh, Shabnam, Neda, Sholeh, Leili, Talieh, Anahita, Taereh … They are not just names, they – and you all – are making the history of your country, in terms of female presence in tourism! What a women! What a passion they put in their work! What a success! What a pride for Iran!!!

Now, I would just like to make a couple of considerations. First, let us remember that the concept of “glass roof”, that is, that limits which many times is transparent, but does exist and prevent women from cultivating their own professional potential, well this is not an Iranian issue. This is a global one. It is important to keep this in mind, to be aware you are involved in a global debate with the possibility to compare your point of view with the rest of the world. And to share examples and opinions not with the person sitting next to you, but with women who run tour operators, agencies or hotels on the other side of the globe. Because they’re keen to talk exactly about the same things! They are keen to talk to you!!! This is global cooperation. This is women, in the context of global cooperation!

The other consideration is about the main concern of working women, particularly for women who works in such a complex field like tourism. It refers to the conciliation between the care and attention to family and their professional positions. Also in this case I believe that the work that your association is developing is of extreme importance, because in order to reduce this concern about the balance family/work, important measures have to be implemented that guarantee “real” opportunities to women. But the creation of these measures depends on the existence of an interlocutor between the community and the institutions. It is the result of your work as interface. You have thus the extremely delicate task to promote this epochal change.

Anyway, I would also like to add a final remark in this respect, and to end my message, today: I’ve travelled a lot in my life, and almost always for work. I know quite something about organizations worldwide, thus. And I can guarantee you that Iran is one of the countries where I see more female presence in the offices, universities, and in the companies, after all. Of course, there is the need to talk about equal opportunities within the labour market, and about policies to balance the presence in the family and at work, as we said. But generally speaking, it seems to me that Iran is on the right path, the right way has already been taken, and the country (the institutions, the associations, the community) is compact in this. Because your culture, is a culture of peace. Starting from the inner peace! Let just continue on this path, then. Together! Future generations, our dear children, are asking for it. History is watching! So, togheter, let’s make it! Baraye zanone irani! Baraye Iran!!! Inshallah!!!”

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The IIPT – Iran Chapter takes part in the celebrations of the Day of Dialogue and Constructive Interaction with the World

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:01:48 +0000

The IIPT – Iran Chapter takes part in the celebrations of the Day of Dialogue and Constructive Interaction with the World at the museum of Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense, Tehran

Dr Fabio Carbone, IIPT Iran and Dr. Jafari, Holy defense museum

Every year in Iran on the July 14^th, the “Day of Dialogue & Constructive Interaction with the World” is celebrated. Many activities are organised all around the country to celebrate peace and intercultural dialogue. The Museum of the Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense in Tehran, partner of the IIPT – Iran Chapter, is going to hold a seminar titled “Tourism as a pillar of constructive interaction with the world”. The museum kindly invited the IIPT – Iran Chapter to participate, and Dr. Fabio Carbone, IIPT ambassador at large and head of the IIPT – Iran Chapter will be present in the event with a speech about the future of tourism in Iran and important consideration about the opportunity represented by tourism as a vehicle of intercultural dialogue for global understanding and peace. The relevance of this day and this event highlight once again the commitment of Iran and its cultural institutions, as well as its civil society, to promote messages of peace and cooperation with the world. A commitment that the IIPT – Iran Chapter is honored to support.

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International Institute for Peace Through Tourism Iran Chapter, IIPT Iran

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 21:07:45 +0000

Our vision and mission

For us tourism means human mobility. Human mobility means opportunities for intercultural dialogue. Intercultural dialogue means global understanding and peace. For us tourism is a vehicle of peace. Based on this vision, which reflect the Amman Declaration and the message of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism founded by Louis d’Amore, our mission is promote and establish a new paradigm of tourism development in Iran, based on communities participation, preservation of the sociocultural traits and richness of the country and at the same time the promotion of the intercultural dialogue with the visitors.

Who we are

The Iran Chapter of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism is a non-governmental and non-for-profit organisation founded in April 2018. The organisation is constantly open to new ideas and new members.

The main board is composed as follows:

Fabio Carbone (Head)

Sassan Ghassemi

Mosthafa Khoshabi

Juergen Steinmetz speaking at the Islamic Hall of the People in Teheran in 2008. With Louis D’Amore founder and president of IIPT.

Our Portfolio

Here are the diversity of projects as follows:

– Education;
– Events;
– Publishing;
– Research and Consulting;
– Collaboration with external projects.

Activities 2018

First IIPT-IC Meeting (April 18th)
Supporter of the photo exposition “Kabul and Tehran. Readout of two capitals. The climate” (July 2nd)
Participation in the World Tourism Day celebration (September 26th)
Participation in the workshop “toward greener cities” organised by KANDOO, with the support of National Geographic and IIPT-IC (October 4th).
Supporter of the event “Night of Afghanistan music”, organised by ECO – Economic corporation organisation

Partners and supporters

Miniature Group , Tehran, IRAN

Islamic Revolution & Holy Defense Museum

Contact IIPT Iran: iran@iipt.org

Fabio Carbone: fabio.carbone@iipt.org

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