News Archives - International Institute For Peace Through Tourism IIPT

IIPT PROVIDES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:06:23 +0000

Long-standing member of the IIPT board, Timothy Marshall, would like to remind us that IIPT has been at the forefront of important global issues; and given the burning issue of Climate Change this world is facing, it’s timely to remind ourselves of an important declaration adopted at Lusaka, Zambia, 20 May 2011:

THE LUSAKA DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Participants in the 5th IIPT African Conference conclude:

The global challenges facing humanity call for global solutions and cooperation at all levels – and by all sectors, public and private, and civil society as a whole – on an unprecedented scale.

Peace will be an essential prerequisite to achieve this level of cooperation, and peace will also generate the additional economic wealth to fund these solutions.

That travel and tourism – the world’s largest industry, affecting every sector of society, in virtually every nation – an industry that is founded on peace, and that contributes to peace and understanding – has a key leadership role to play in achieving these solutions.

That travel and tourism has a central role to play in creating jobs with dignity, foreign exchange earnings, the development of disadvantaged areas, poverty reduction, and the promotion of understanding peace, love, unity and progress among all peoples,

communities and nations on the African continent, and throughout the world.

And therefore call on all sectors of the travel and tourism industry to:

Lou D’amore, Tukwini Mandela, Timothy Marshall

Support the leadership role of UNWTO, UNEP and WMO in the specific actions

called for in the Davos Declaration: Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges.

Give emphasis to energy conservation and aggressively make the transition to renewable and clean energy sources as a foundation for carbon/GHG neutral development strategies and a ‘Green Growth’ transformation.

Continue to implement socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices that benefit local destinations and enhances both cultural and natural heritage, giving particular emphasis to fair trade in tourism practices, tourism that contributes to poverty reduction, and tourism that contributes to the restoration of ecological systems.

Provide for quality tourism experiences that include meaningful interactions between visitors (guests) and the host community, and a greater understanding and appreciation of local cultures, customs, and traditions.

Implement environmentally responsible development and operational practices, particularly in vulnerable areas including coastlines, low lying areas, and mountain regions.

Develop and implement waste management plans that give emphasis to reducing, recycling, and re-use.

Incorporate quadruple bottom line reporting with climate change alongside

environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic value.

Actively engage local communities in planning and decision-making, empower

women and youth, and embrace the wisdom, knowledge, and values of indigenous peoples.

For the transport sector, and particularly the airline industry, continue efforts in improving engine efficiencies and ultimately develop engines that operate with clean and renewable energy sources.

Recognize the important role of media, educational, and religious institutions as agents of change.Governments and International Development Agencies:

Provide incentives to tourism projects that utilize green designs/technologies, contribute to creating sustainable livelihoods, poverty reduction, and the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

Only approve projects that adhere to globally recognized sustainable tourism

certification standards, and that incorporate construction designed to withstand severe storms and other effects of climate change.

Not allow heavy water consuming projects where water is in limited supply.
Develop Disaster Management Plans that include phases for Risk Reduction, Readiness, Response, and Recovery.

Recognize that certain forms of tourism ARE an adaptation strategy.
Encourage more research and monitoring of emerging trends related to the inter-connectedness of tourism – environment – and climate change, and provide web-based tools for the sharing and integration of research findings such as has been done in Botswana: www.Botswanatourismresearch.org.

Design and implement broad public awareness campaigns focusing on the linkages of tourism – environment – climate change – sustainable development – and broader society. Provide corresponding educational programs beginning at the primary level – through high school – and into universities.

Travelers:

Appreciate that we are all custodians of our one common home – planet earth, and we all share a common responsibility in preserving its abundant beauty and resources for future generations.

Be selective in modes of travel and minimize – and offset – the carbon footprint of their entire trip.

Select accommodations, transport, tour operators, activities with eco-labels or that have been recognized for their green practices and strive to contribute to the social, cultural, economic, or environmental enhancement of their destination.

Recognize that every traveler is potentially an ‘Ambassador for Peace’ – and a

messenger of transformative change towards a “Green Growth” global village.

With Gandhi and Tolstoy, come to discover that ‘life finds meaning in service to others’ – and “By my spirit, words, and actions, encourage others to travel the world in peace.” from IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler We support the UNWTO, UNEP and WMO Davos Declaration in calling for UN, international, financial and bilateral agencies to support the governments of developing, and in particular least developed countries, for which tourism represents a key economic sector, in their efforts to address and to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and to formulate appropriate action plans;

Commend the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) for its organization of this conference and for giving scope to the vision of peace through tourism; And express appreciation to our host – the Government of the Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources; Conference Patron, His Excellency Rupiah B. Banda, President, Republic of Zambia; Conference Partners and Sponsors including the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA), World Travel Market; Livingstone University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM), Zambia Ethno Tourism and Cultural Tourism Alliance (ZECUTA), Children and Youth Welfare Foundation, Sustainable Travel International (STI), Blue Yonder and others; Media Partners including eTurbo News, World Tourism Directory, India Tourism Catalog, Travel Video TV, and others; the many Conference Supporters; and the people of Zambia for their welcoming spirit and hospitality.

Adopted at Lusaka, Zambia, 20 May 2011

By the more than 440 participants to the 5th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism from 36 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and the Caribbean including Ministers of Tourism, senior representatives of UN agencies, senior government officials, senior representatives from diverse sectors of the industry and NGO’s, educators, students, and leading experts in tourism and climate change.

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A Farewell Tribute to Our Dear Friend Nikki Rose

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:46:18 +0000

Recently, I was saddened to hear about the passing of a dear friend of mine and of IIPT, Nikki Rose. Nikki was the loved and admired founder of “Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries which featured interactive educational programs on Culture, Nature, Sustainable Organic Agriculture, and Cuisine. Her educational seminars for academic institutions and serious enthusiasts of culture, nature and cuisine have received numerous awards for Best Practices from National Geographic, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development, and World Travel and Tourism Council. She was an expert in her field.

Nikki founded Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Educational Network in 1977 to support residents working on action programs to protect and share their heritage. She was a Greek American journalist, seminar director, and professional chef. She has been a consultant on similar initiatives around the world.

Nikki is the author of “Crete: The Roots of the Mediterranean Diet”; Contributing Author, The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Food and Gastronomy; Destination Stewardship Center; Slow Food; and many other publications. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Archeological Institute of America Magazine, National Public Radio, The New York Times, Lonely Planet, Food Tank, The Guardian (UK), TV New Zealand, Australian Gourmet, Traveler, and O Globo (Brazil).

Nikki has made presentations at the United Nations, New York; International Institute of Peace through Tourism Conferences; The Embassy of Greece, Washington DC; ECOCLUB; Terroir Talk; The National Hellenic Museum; and more. She has also been interviewed extensively about her award-winning initiatives in Crete by Food Tank; Archeological Institute of America Magazine; National Public Radio; ECOCLUB; International Ecotourism Society; Greek Reporter, and many other outlets.

Nikki was in the final stages of production for a documentary which showcases over four thousand years of Crete’s fascinating history, natural beauty, biodiversity, toxicology, resilience, agroecology, music, young organic farmers, healthy cuisine, and hope.

The IIPT family will always remember Nikki for her insights and wisdom and for opening the doors to Kellari Greek Restaurant in New York where the passing of the baton of leadership from Lou D’Amore to Ajay Prakash took place. Nikki was good friends with the owner and in coordinating arrangements with our Chairman, Timothy Marshall, she noted that “The food is fantastic, and the staff are lovely people. I wish I could be there with you”.

Nikki was hopeful of joining Timothy Marshall, Andreas Laurentzatkis, Gail Parsonage and Jovan Popesku for meetings in Greece following the dedication of the IIPT Global Peace Park in Turkey. However, she was unable to make it because of the recent passing of her sister. One of the topics to be explored was the potential establishment of an IIPT Chapter in Greece.

Dear Nikki, you were truly a dear friend to IIPT.

May you rest in peace. We will miss you!

BY DR. LOU D’AMORE, FOUNDER AND PRESDIENT EMERITUS

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

Watch Nikki Rose in Summit Video on Women for Peace : https://institutetourism.com/wp

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World Tourism Day Message From the President of IIPT

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:50:08 +0000

Today, as we mark World Tourism Day, we do so against the backdrop of turmoil and uncertainty. Wars and conflicts continue to shatter lives in many parts of the world; families are torn apart and countless innocent lives are lost every day. At the same time, climate change poses an existential threat that could overwhelm our planet and jeopardize the very future of humanity.

In the face of these challenges, we must remind ourselves of a simple truth: tourism is, at its core, an industry of people. It is about human encounters – about connecting across boundaries of race, religion, nationality and ideology. Tourism builds bridges where politics often builds walls; it fosters understanding where ignorance breeds fear; it has the power to create dialogue where otherwise there might be only silence, or worse, violence.

We know that peace promotes tourism. But on this day, let us reflect on the equally important question: Can tourism promote peace? At IIPT we believe the answer is yes.

Tourism offers one of the most powerful vehicles for dialogue and cross-cultural encounters. By enabling people to experience the beauty, traditions and shared humanity of others, tourism has the capacity to dissolve the “otherness” that so often fuels conflict. Tourism has a unique role to play in cultivating empathy, in encouraging dialogue and in demonstrating that what unites us as human beings is far greater than what divides us.

As stakeholders in one of the world’s largest industries, we cannot remain passive. With our reach, our resources and our responsibility, we are called to lead. The tourism industry must recognize its moral obligation: to nurture peace, to promote sustainability and to safeguard the fragile beauty of our world for generations yet to come. We must ensure that tourism is not merely an economic activity, but a movement for peace, resilience, and hope.

There is an old Inuit saying: “You do not inherit the earth from your ancestors, you hold it in trust for your children.” Let this be our pledge on World Tourism Day – that we will use the power of tourism to leave the world a better, safer, and more peaceful place than we found it.

Together let us reaffirm our commitment to be not just beneficiaries, but builders of peace.

Ajay Prakash

Global President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT)

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THE URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:57:28 +0000

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 15^th 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 19^th 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 50^th 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 4^th 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.

LOU D’AMORE, NAOMI KING

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 25^th Anniversary celebration at World Travel Market in London was “Building a Culture of Peace Through Tourism” and was in support of the 100^th Anniversary of World War One, which was called “The Great War”. Our Theme was “War No More”. Croatia marked our 25^th 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.

BEN SHERMAN

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.

LOU D’AMORE, TUKWINI MANDELA, TIMOTHY MARSHALL

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 125^th 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.

PATRICK KALIFUNGWA, PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA AND HIS GRANDCHILD

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.

LOU D”AMORE, TIMOTHY MARSHALL, DR. BABS OJABANGO

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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IIPT Student Peace Prize and Student, Peace Ambassador for Tourism 2023

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:08:40 +0000

The annual IIPT – International Institute for Peace through Tourism, Student Peace Prize 2023 has been awarded to Madara Vasko from Griffith University, Queensland Australia.

The award is presented each year by the Academic Lecturer at the collaborating University, short listing submitted essays from students, then evaluated by an invited Panel of Australian Tourism Industry Executives and IIPT Committee Members.

The essay topic this year: To what extent do tourists have a responsibility to build a sustainable and peaceful world through tourism? Discuss relevant actions that tourists could undertake when visiting a destination.

Madara Vasko submitted the following:

“Tourists, I beg you to consider peace in your destination selection”

Peace in terms of tourism focuses on what Higgins-Desbiolles et al. (2021) define as “positive peace”, which is the presence of a combination of desirable conditions in society, as opposed to “negative peace”, or the absence of war. Peace is also created through recognition of one’s own culture and the mutual respect produced to cultures visited and interacted with, producing a symbiotic relationship between tourism and peace. Whilst both are important to a synchronous tourism system, “positive peace” produces the effect of human happiness and fulfilment (Liebovitch et al., 2020), allowing for tourist destinations to possess greater income stability, security, and outlook on future, therefore thriving in both a community sense, and a commercial one that can be shared with tourists from around the world.

In this carefully balanced system possessive of “positive peace”, the tourist can choose to extend the positive impacts already present or hinder them through reckless behaviour or disrespect of local culture. Due to this important choice between respect and rebellion whilst travelling, and the fundamental reliance on tourists for income, the visitor plays a tremendous role in promoting peace through their holiday endeavours by contributing their hard-earned disposable income to allow for the employment of those in tourism destinations (da Silva et al., 2020).

Considering the importance of the collective power of tourists in the landscape of peace promotion in destinations visited, the tourist can and should choose to take individual actions to act as a catalyst to promotion of “positive peace”.

One such choice to promote “positive peace” involves travelling to, and supporting destinations that promote the concept and practice the principles of self-sustained peacebuilding. By “putting their money where their mouth is”, tourists can actively support these destinations that are working to establish the self-sufficient economic and social conditions needed for sustained “positive peace” (De Coning, 2018). Subsequently, through tourists’ economic support to the destinations that they deem to be promoting “positive peace”, the destinations relying on tourism for significant proportions of the area’s income are able to sustain themselves and act as examples to other destinations aiming to achieve the same. Therefore, through the monetary support example, tourists, if not necessarily individually, then collectively, are able to promote peace through tourism.

Another choice that can be made by tourists aiming to support peace-promoting tourism lies in participating in cultural and indigenous tourism experiences. Not only does this promote experiences that are life-changing for cultural understanding of both the indigenous communities worldwide and visitors themselves, but it also ensures that income generated by tourism activity is kept within the communities that tourists interact with. By doing so, the tourist is able to provide demand for the labour that supports the livelihood of peace-oriented communities, providing purchasing power, bridging gaps in wealth inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous communities, and exploring a different environmental outlook that is focused on conservation and environmental preservation (Bellato et al., 2022).

Therefore, by gearing travel intentions and purchases towards travelling to destinations practicing “positive peace” and supporting indigenous tourism experiences, the tourist has great potential, therefore responsibility to build a sustainable and peaceful global tourism system. This is done by “putting tourists’ money where their mouth is” and supporting tourism operators with missions that align with visitors’ morals for peace.

Let’s consider the alternative – supporting destinations that are not actively promoting the concept of peacebuilding. Destinations that allow corporations to exploit the residents of the communities that they disrupt, rummage and, eventually, run into the ground. Showing these kinds of destinations that you do not care about the rights, heritage, traditions, and livelihood of local and indigenous residents of destinations does not hold them accountable to practice business equitably and peacefully. Moreover, even if corporations operating within tourism destinations actively trying to build and/or maintain peace do obtain support of local residents, the financial leakages that these types of businesses create cannot be rightfully justified, unless corporations can show concrete evidence of support and contribution to the communities (not just the corporate type, where they claim funding to local communities, whilst really doing nothing but promoting themselves).

“So how can I as an individual contribute to building a more peaceful and sustainable tourism future?” you may ask…

When planning your next and subsequent trips, think about who’s hands your money is ending up in. Is your tourism provider in it for greed and profit, or are they trying to support their family and contribute to their own community? Is the destination you are travelling to implementing consistent and helpful action to preserve positive peace for their people and land? If not, then why do you feel it is ok to put your money there?

We would all appreciate living in the first scenario, and whilst the second might not seem too scary to those of us who haven’t experienced it, it is important to remember that the communities facing destruction from corporate greed are human just like the rest of us, and these people deserve “positive peace” in their families, communities, and cultures.

Bellato, L., Frantzeskaki, N., & Nygaard, C. A. (2023). Regenerative tourism: A conceptual framework leveraging theory and practice. Tourism Geographies, 25(4), 1026–1046. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2022.2044376

da Silva, J. T., Breda, Z., & Carbone, F. (2020). Role and impact of tourism in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-5053-3

De Coning, C. (2018). Adaptive peacebuilding. International Affairs, 94(2), 301–317. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix251

Higgins-Desbiolles, F., Blanchard, L.-A., & Urbain, Y. (2022). Peace through tourism: Critical reflections on the intersections between peace, justice, sustainable development and tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(2-3), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1952420

Liebovitch, L. S., Coleman, P. T., & Fisher, J. (2020). Approaches to understanding sustainable peace: Qualitative causal loop diagrams and quantitative mathematical models. American Behavioral Scientist, 64(2), 123–144. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764219859618

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The International Institute For Peace Through Tourism Calls For Peace In Ukraine

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 19:52:29 +0000

The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) was founded in 1986, the UN International Year of Peace, as a Travel and Tourism industry response to the peaking of terrorism, 1985-1986; the growing tensions of East and West in the early 1980’s; a deteriorating Environment; and the growing gap between the ‘have and have not’ regions of the world.

IIPT’S Mission is to help bring about a peaceful and sustainable world through tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty reduction. We believe that the world’s largest industry, Travel and Tourism, must be the world’s first global Peace industry. We further believe that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace”.

The Ukrainian people have demonstrated enormous courage and Grace in the face of untold horror. Their beautiful children, brilliant students, protective mothers, strong fathers, courageous leaders, and enduring Faith have sustained them in this most difficult hour. Diplomacy, not War, must be the path forward in Ukraine. Civilian lives, homes, cultural and civic institutions, and the beautiful way of Life for the Ukrainian people are being devastated.

The Theme at the end of World War I was “NO MORE WAR”. In the spirit of this Theme and world Peace, IIPT has dedicated 450 Peace Parks on 6 continents around the world. We encourage all leaders and people of goodwill to stand in solidarity with the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the U.N. World Tourism Organization and the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism in calling for Peace and Diplomacy rather than War and Atrocities.

IIPT looks forward to dedicating a Global Peace Park in FREEDOM SQUARE, Kharkiv, Ukraine, after the ending of this war.

IIPT CREDO of the PEACEFUL TRAVELER

‘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 gentle 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.’

Louis D’Amore, IIPT President and Founder

Taleb Rifai, Chairman, IIPT International Advisory Board

Timothy Marshall, Chairman, IIPT Board of Directors

Reza Soltani, International Relation & Communication

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Harrisburg Making Monuments/ Making History

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:19:17 +0000

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IIPT announces the winners of the 6th celebrating her awards at ITB Berlin on International Women’s Day

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 23:47:51 +0000

The International Institute for Peace (IIPT) announced the award winners of its 6th global Celebrating Her awards. The event was held in ITB’s hybrid studio which facilitates simultaneous physical and virtual participation, considerably multiplying the audience numbers.

Instituted as a joint venture between IIPT India and ITB Berlin in 2016, the Awards return after a two-year gap on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. TravelBiz Monitor is the official Knowledge Partner of the Awards. Over 20 outstanding women from across the world have been awarded over the years and the Celebrating Her awards have become a marquee event at ITB Berlin, the greatest travel and trade show in the world.

The 2023 winners:

Carol Hay – for Tourism Resilience

After heading Antigua and Barbuda’s UK and European Marketing division, followed by 11 years with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation as Director for UK and Europe, since 2020, Carol has headed her own tourism development agency McKenzie Gayle Limited which advises the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK and Europe.

Carol’s passion for the tourism industry has spanned over three decades, she continues to make a solid impact through her consulting, training, coaching and mentoring, whilst raising her voice for her personal mission of diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.

RupinderBrar – for Tourism Leadership

As Additional Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, Rupinder worked in the Ministry of Tourism in the precarious time for tourism and hospitality when COVID completely halted travel and tourism. The need was to devise out-of-box strategies to keep the industry alive. The innovative DekhoApnaDesh campaign which Rupinderheaded,played a huge role in keeping the domestic industry afloat. She collaborated with the Ministry of Home in enabling a pan-India framework for increased safety in tourist spaces and was awarded the Director General Police’s Commendation disc for developing a plan for the same. She also spearheaded the pan-India employment generation digital training plan for tourist guides

IaiaPedemonte – for Responsible Tourism

Iaia is a freelance journalist, the founder of the Gender Responsible Tourism Association (GRT), a team of communication, responsible tourism and gender experts promoting women’s empowerment in tourism. Iaia has undertaken assignments for international organisations, including the UNDP for a sustainable ecotourism project in Yemen. She has reported worldwide about women’s empowerment and tourism development in destinations.

As a communications and information group, GRT publishes information about the best travel destinations where women are the protagonists. It is also the antenna of a global network, receiving, transmitting and linking up with initiatives, individual women, enterprises, associations and institutions.

Ajay Prakash, Founding President of IIPT India and global President Elect of IIPT who joined the event remotely from India said, “The IIPTI Global Awards, Celebrating Her are intended to acknowledge and felicitate exceptional women in the fields of tourism; individuals with a clarity of vision and mission. Individuals who have demonstrated strong personal values and determination to make the difference are worthy of recognition and reward. They need to be felicitated and held up as role models for the younger generation to follow.” He extolled the success of the BetiBachaoBetiPadhao campaign which he said has transformed the lives of young women even in remote villages and said that the CelebraingHer awards are aimed at making women agents of change and drivers of growth, not mere beneficiaries of concessions.

The event was conducted on site by Daniela Wagner, Business Development Director of Jacobs Media Group and a Celebrating Her award winner from 2018, and Rika Jean-Francois, CSR Commissioner for ITB Berlin. Daniela explained the background and the rationale of the Awards and invited Rika for her welcome address. Expressing her satisfaction at the physical resumption of the Awards, Rika Jean-Francois said “The IIPT awards are an integral part of ITB Berlin. They stand for inclusivity and are an important step in the realization of the United Nation’s SDG 5 – Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. We are happy to continue our partnership with IIPT and to see the awards return in a physical form.”

In a written statement, Louis D’Amore, Founding President of IIPT, thanked Rika and ITB Berlin for their continued support, lauded the achievements of IIPT India, led by KiranYadav and Ajay Prakash and stated that he would be handing over the baton of global Presidency to Ajay before the end of the year.

Noredah Othman, CEO of the Sabah Tourism Board recounted her journey of 32 years in the tourism industry from her start as a receptionist

The awards were preceded by a lively discussion on Gender and Tourism for Peace which was moderated by Daniela Wagner. The panel comprised Debbie Flynn, Managing partner at FINN Partners, Helena EganCSO Adventure Tech SA and former Director of TripAdvisorand Rika Jean-Francois. In their acceptance speeches the winners thanked IIPT and ITB Berlin for the honour and vowed to continue their efforts to spread awareness of Tourism as a powerful tool for Peace.

About IIPT

Founded in 1986 by Louis D’Amore, IIPT is built on two very simple but powerful premises: That tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, can become the first global Peace Industry and that every tourist is potentially an Ambassador of Peace. Through global summits, conferences, workshops, awards, the global Peace Parks initiative, consultations with governments and the UNWTO and a regular newsletter, IIPT has worked conscientiously over the last 37 years to make peace an integral part of the tourism ecosphere. IIPT India is non-profit registered with the Indian Registrar of Companies

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IIPT Student Peace Prize and Student Peace Ambassador 2022

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 18:43:18 +0000

With reference to the IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveller my reflections on the Challengers and Opportunities in promoting Peace Tourism at a time of upheaval and change in the wider Tourism Industry.

Isabella Mayday – University Technology Sydney, Student 2022

Humanity is presently experiencing and influencing the most profound and rapid paradigm change in human history, with structural inequality having demographic, economic and ecological implications (D’Amore, 2009). We are confronted with numerous challenges, and opportunities post Covid-19 that are global in scope. Meeting the difficulties of these necessitates a change that can be resolved via harmony and peace; however, the adoption of these notions depends on the willingness of the traveller’s. The travel and tourist sector will continue to play a critical and leading role in this change. It will be the fundamental pillar in promoting peace tourism in this time of upheaval and change in the broader tourism industry. Specifically, this idea will be explored through the destination, Hiroshima Japan.

The International Institute of Peace Tourism (IIPT) creates several peace principles and teaches people about the importance of tourism in promoting peace and sustainability in destinations. The IIPT created the ‘IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveller’, which is being widely distributed as a beneficial tool for practising the art of peace via tourism (IPPT, 2019). As peace begins with the individual, the CREDO is responsible for the opportunity to travel and experience the world. The concepts outlined in this credo will be utilised in conjunction with research to better balance structural inequalities for individuals in a post-Covid 19 society.

The tourism industry has a virtual role in promoting peace and practising responsible and sustainable activities for the betterment of humankind. However, there is much academic discussion surrounding the willingness and care of global travellers to promote peace actively. Antoniou (2019) suggests that tourists in the post COVID era are less willing to compromise their trips. However, tourism academic Carbone (2020) believes that tourism is expected to focus more heavily on travellers and prioritise human development and peace. Further, Alamineh (2022) found that due to COVID 19, the contribution of tourism to positive peace and sustainable development has significantly been affected positively. Thus tourists are more likely to take on peace and sustainability initiatives when resuming travel. Although it is impossible to know if global travellers actually care, there is a strong potential for developing and sustaining positive peace in Japan.

Transitioning from violence to facilitating global-civic involvement is highly challenging for indivduals to devise (Braniff et al., 2018). The practice of dark tourism is seen through the travel to a destination due to death, misery, or tragedy and is seen as the total opposite of the consumption of pleasant destinations (Meijer, 2015). The IIPT incorporates the notion into their Credo for Peaceful Travel, allowing travellers to visit countries with an “open mind and gentle heart” (IIPT, 2019). Through the opportunity and application of people-centred approaches, dark tourism can focus on the significance of cultural heritage in decreasing disparities and decolonizing heritage practices (Giliberto, 2021). As a result, a learning environment will be created, encouraging travellers to care and engage in open discussions about the importance of promoting peace and Japanese culture. As peace education is infused with tourist policy and practice, awareness of and respect for cultural diversity is fostered via peace tourism.

The memorial sites associated with Hiroshima’s mass dead and nuclear activities make it a particular case for peace tourism and dark tourism. Surprisingly, these attractions are prefaced by peace and cultural heritage rather than war. With over one million tourists expected each year prior to the pandemic, travellers have an intense desire to promote and care for peace tourism (Braniff et al., 2018). However, the link between Hiroshima and Japan’s peace has not been without difficulties. The devastation of the atomic bomb suggests that Japanese society has forgotten its wartime aggressiveness. Higgins (2021) recognizes that encouraging more robust engagement with all stakeholders will generate more excellent dialogue about the meaning and value of tourism and peace. To overcome this challenge, the participation and creation of programs with the local hibakusha (survivors of the bomb) and the local community are essential (Braniff et al., 2018). Further, now that the Hiroshima peace memorial park has become a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, it serves as a safeguard for eliminating nuclear weapons and promotes world peace, precisely aligning with the ‘open mind and gentle heart’ CREDO. Creating programs to facilitate sustained contact between visitors and residents can foster and promote a culture of peace with the reopening of changes in the tourism industry.

Peace tourism emphasises the idea of positive peace rather than simply avoiding direct violence (Herath, 2016 ). Two significant sectors must function and coordinate to mitigate the negative consequences and promote tourism as a sustainable operation. Host communities should prioritise the quality of service to arriving visitors and be accountable for environmental protection. Secondly, international stakeholders should invest in local initiatives for the gradual growth and reopening of the tourism industry post-Covid-19. Tourism can allow destinations such as Hiroshima that are economically advanced and rich in culture with the ability to encourage others to travel the world in peace. Higgins (2021) emphasises the importance of engaging with local contexts to understand tourism’s peace capacities. Advocacy through social frameworks such as communitybased tourism can motivate travellers to care and promote peace tourism. In particular, community- based tourism can support two critical aspects of the credo: ‘ appreciate all cultures discovered’ and ‘preserve and protect the natural environment which sustains all life’ (IIPT, 2019)

Community-based tourism (CBT) may serve society by restoring social harmony and integration, maintaining cultural legacy, reducing social discontent and restoring peace (Yamashita, 2011). It can be seen as a niche opportunity to promote the credo and reduce inequalities between host communities and travellers. CBT approaches include natural, heritage and cultural attractiveness and therefore are major pull factors for visitors. The local community in Hiroshima offers community development NPO opportunities to make its surroundings and living environment more sustainable (Yuki Tourism Community Development Corporation NPO, 2019). Specifically, adventure tourism is intertwined with their CBT, whereby travellers participate in locally performed tours. Here, tourism can be seen to demonstrate the passion that Japanese people have built in the city and how they live peacefully with nature (Yuki Tourism Community Development Corporation NPO, 2019). As such, residents, tourists, and migrants live in fluid though asymmetrical harmony (Higgins et al., 2021). Further, CBT creates jobs and income, in turn reducing economic inequality. Despite being a popular sustainability strategy among ecotourists, this initiative aligns with the IIPT’s Credo and targets individuals to better align their travel desires towards being conscious and peaceful travellers.

Tourism contributes to world peace and sustainability, including in key international documents. Accordingly, Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) stresses the need for inclusive, just, and peaceful societies in order to achieve sustainable development (Higgins et al., 2021). Travel restrictions and lockdowns have switched the world from over-tourism to under-tourism, which is beneficial for sustainable development (Tsai, 2022). This phenomenon, however, is not necessarily negative because the decrease in global mobility can be seen as an essential catalyst for sustainable development and focus attention on the value of peace. Thus, the introduction of technology is an inclusive and powerful tool to eliminate the geographical inequality of tourists as well as advocate for peaceful tourism. In this era of social distancing and sustainability, peacemakers have used online communities to drive change (Philips, 2020)

Amid the ongoing and unpredictable Covid pandemic, the tourism industry has been influenced by significant changes and turmoil; thus, individuals have been unable to visit Japan. By partnering with international nongovernmental organisations and Japanese and American artists, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum fostered a virtual tour of the museum while preserving social distancing protocols. (IndyaTv News, 2021). This gives travellers the opportunity to recognize their participation in a sustainability strategy whilst allowing them to reflect on peace initiatives. In particular, Hiroshima’s virtual tourism directly links with peace and therefore upholds the credo principle of “By my spirit, words and actions, encourage others to travel the world in peace’ (IPPT. 2019). Individuals who take part in these tours can share these views and encourage others to travel in peace.

Virtual tourism can provide a temporary but timely solution for potential tourists as the pandemic continues. Based on research, Tsia (2022) formulated virtual tourism as an opportunistic strategy that creates a holistic destination image among prospective tourists. The challenge is that after the pandemic, a significant number of people still may adopt and want to use virtual tourism (Tsia, 2022). Accordingly, the on-site tourism industry will coexist with virtual tourism simultaneously. This means Hiroshima will need to understand how to relate its experiences to in-person and online tourism. Online tourists can actively communicate with online tour guides through live chat functionality, garnering a holistic experience that increases their understanding of the development of a peaceful traveller. Due to the rapid digitization of the world as a result of Covid 19, technology has assisted the tourism revolution by transforming traditional tourism practices, meanwhile acting as a sustainable alternative able to promote peace.

In conclusion, Japan was confronted with numerous challenges, and opportunities post Covid-19. The travel and tourist sector has demonstrated an integral and leading role in advocating peace through tourism. Specifically, dark tourism, community-based tourism, and virtual tourism in Hiroshima can potentially integrate the IIPT’s credo and identify areas in which individuals can use travel as a fundamental pillar in promoting peace tourism and eliminating structural inequality during this time change. Ultimately, in a post covid world, tourists are more willing to care for a harmonious relationship and change their perception towards having a more peaceful travel experience.

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Crete Culinary Sanctuaries Educational Network is featured in Destination Stewardship Yearbook

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 11:15:01 +0000

Nikki Rose report “Crete Needs to Restore its Gastronomic Heritage” is featured in Destination Stewardship Yearbook. The Destination Stewardship Center was founded by Jonathan Tourtellot, former editor of National Geographic Traveler.

In the report, I note the benefits of linking small-scale sustainable organic agriculture with sustainable tourism, including quotes from small-scale organic farmers/heirloom seed savers and reports from IPES, IFOAM, Agroecology Europe, et al.

Destination Stewardship Yearbook 2020 – 2021

Curated into one document, the Destination Stewardship Report’s Annual Yearbook is based on the e-quarterly Destination Stewardship Reports. Sharing “lessons learned” is the purpose of this report. The destinations featured have many good stories to tell about what has worked in their journey toward sustainability.

Info on Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries 2022 Open Seminars: www.CookinginCrete.comCrete’s Culinary Sanctuaries is also in production of a documentary, Heritage Protectors, about the people working hard to protect their cultural, natural and culinary heritage. To support this important project (donations are tax-deductible for US-citizens), see details on their website.