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Global Summit on Peace through Tourism
(November 8-11, 2000)
The first Global Summit on Peace through Tourism, held in Amman, Jordan was most successful and achieved several significant outcomes including:

* The Amman Declaration in support of a Culture of Peace through Tourism and the U.N. Decade for Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)

* Signing of a Memorandum of understanding between MEMTTA Americas and

the World Travel and Tourism Council

* Formation of a Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism with 26

international travel industry organizations as founding members ñ each committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of tourism as a global peace industry

* Formation of five international networks (Educators, Rural and Community-Based Tourism, Spirituality in Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Indigenous) in support of a Culture of Peace through Tourism

* Launching of a Global Peace Parks project on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the

11th month, 2000 at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism

* Plans for follow up Symposia, Conferences and a Second Global Summit

The achievements of the First Global Summit together with the seven principles of the Amman Declaration, form the basis for the Institute's Five Year Plan in support of the U.N. Decade for Peace and Non-Violence. The four over-arching goals of this plan are to achieve progress in the following areas:

Bridging of the have and have-not peoples of the world

Healing the wounds of conflict

Educating for a culture of peace through tourism

Greater awareness and commitment in all regions of the world to

Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism

 

Foundations of the Global Summit on Peace through Tourism

The Summit was built on the foundations of three previous Global Conferences of the IIPT:

Vancouver, 1988; Montreal, 1994; and Glasgow, 1999. Honorary Chairpersons of previous Conferences were: H.E. Vigdis Finnbogadottir, President of Iceland and HM Queen Noor of Jordan. Video taped messages to Opening Ceremonies have been received from Pope John Paul II, President Ronald Reagan and UNESCO Secretary General Federico Mayor. Keynote Speakers

have included: J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Marriott Hotels and Resorts; Claude Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Air Canada; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization; Robert Burns, Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Nobel Peace Laureate David Trimball; Dr. Georgi Grechko, Cosmonaut and President, Federation of Peace and Conciliation (Russia), Dr. Fouad Sultan, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Egypt; Dr. Karan Singh, President, International Centre, India and other world leaders from the fields of travel and tourism, culture, environment, heritage and international development.

IIPT has been a pioneer in developing Codes of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism.

FIVE YEAR PLAN

Symposia, Conferences and Future Global Summits

To continue building awareness, commitment and a global base of partners and networks, IIPT will organize a series of Symposia, Conferences and Global Summits over the next five years. Greece, May 2001- Conference of industry leaders from Greece and Turkey

South Africa, May 2001 - Symposium on Travelers with Special Needs in cooperation with Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped

Jamaica, August 2001 - Caribbean Workshop on Community-Based Tourism

Assisi, Italy, October 2001 - Spirituality in Tourism Conference

To be determined: Educators Symposium on Peace through Tourism and

Tourism and Environment Symposium in collaboration with Global Environment Facility

Philadelphia, January 2002 ñ Cultural Heritage Tourism Conference

South Africa, February 2002 - Pan African Conference on Peace through Tourism

Slovenia, March 2002- Central European Conference on Peace through Tourism

Canada, September 2002 - Global Indigenous Tourism Forum

Second Global Summit on Peace through Tourism -November 2002

Asian Conference on Peace through Tourism - 2003 or 4

South American Conference on Peace through Tourism - 2003 or 4

Central American Conference on Peace through Tourism -2003 or 4

Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism - November 2004

Projects and Programs

Specific projects and programs to be undertaken by IIPT include:

Global Peace Parks Project - building on the success of the IIPT Peace Parks Across Canada Project commemorating Canada's 125th anniversary.

Executive Ambassador Program - matching retired tourism industry executives with requirements in developing nations for one to four month assignments.

Student Ambassador Program - inter-disciplinary teams of graduate students conducting six week (for credit) projects in host developing countries.

Micro Enterprise Project ñ revolving low interest loans for individuals and communities starting tourism ventures in developing countries.

Partnering

IIPT will continue strengthening relationships with key international organizations including the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), U.N. Agencies, World Bank and nurturing the development of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism and its five international networks: Educators Network, Rural & Community Based Tourism Network, Cultural Heritage Tourism Network, Spirituality in Tourism Network and Global Indigenous Tourism Forum.

COALITION OF PARTNERS FOR WORLD PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

Each partner is committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of Tourism as a Global Peace Industry.

Adventure Travel Society

Airline Ambassadors International

Africa Travel Association

Archaeological Institute of America and Archaeology Magazine

Asian Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus

b-there.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization

Educational Travel Alliance

Elderhostel

European Travel Commission

Hospitality Ireland

Hosteling International ñ American Youth Hostels

Indian Tour Operators Association

International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus

International Federation of Women Travel Organizations

Kompas Holidays

Middle East - Mediterranean Travel & Tourism Association

Nepal Tourism Industry Association

PATA Maldives Chapter

Reed Travel Exhibitions

SK‰L International

Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped

Society of Incentive Travel Executives

Sustainable Communities through Tourism Foundation

The International Tourism Exchange (BIT)

Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Association


Global Summit a Success
This past November, Louis d'Amore organized the first Global Summit on Peace through Tourism in Amman, Jordan, honoring the legacy of King Hussein as a peacemaker and serving as a demonstration of support for a continuation of the peace process in the Middle East and other regions of the world.

Twenty-six prestigious international organizations have now become founding partners in the IIPT's Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism with the aim of "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" in support of the UN Decade for Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

The Global Summit on Peace through Tourism included the launching of a Global Peace Parks Project at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism, on the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th month in the first year of the new Millennium. The Global Peace Parks Project builds on the foundations of IIPT's "Peace Parks Across Canada" project commemorating Canada's 125th anniversary as a nation in 1992. Four hundred cities and towns across Canada, from St. John's Newfoundland on the Atlantic, to Victoria, British Columbia on the shores of the Pacific, dedicated a park to peace, each with a 'Bosco Sacro' (Peace Grove) of 12 trees as a symbolic link to one another and as a symbol of hope for the future.

Prior to founding the IIPT, Mr. D'Amore was President of L. J. D'Amore & Associates, a Canadian consultancy with clients that included all levels of government and major private sector companies in various industry sectors including airlines, hotel chains, a national railroad, and developers. In 1976, he conducted the first study in North America on the future of tourism following which his consultancy introduced 'TOURSCAN' - an on-going research project on the future of tourism serving Canada's key organizations in travel and tourism both public and private.

Mr. D'Amore has been a pioneer in promoting a social and environmental ethic within the travel and tourism industry since the mid-70s and in 1992, following the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Summit), Mr. D'Amore developed the world's first Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism for the Canadian tourism industry. He also developed the Guidelines for the Pacific Asia Travel Association GreeenLeaf Program and was a consultant to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP} in identifying the state of the art in Codes of Conduct for Sustainable Tourism.

His consulting experience includes working with governments and the private sector in a range of areas including: community development, social impact assessment, public participation, social aspects of environmental and resource planning, cultural/heritage development, and conflict resolution with an emphasis on win-win solutions.

Above photo (from left): Hon. Mike A. Gizo, President of the Africa Travel Association, His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Louis D'Amore, founder and President of IIPT.

Peace Through Tourism Summit in Amman, Jordan
His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan hosted a Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism in 2000 organized by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) with American Express as Title Sponsor. The world meeting, held shortly before the late King Hussein's birthday, honored the monarch's legacy as a peacemaker in the middle East and his commitment to expanding tourism to the region as a means of building a lasting peace. Continued below


Peaceful Traveler's Affirmations
At the Hilton Addis Ababa this spring, we joined Mr. Louis D'Amore's focus group to explore various concepts, including the dedication of "Peace Parks " around the World. Here in Harmony with Nature, individuals can truly call themselves Peaceful Travelers. In each of these parks, I would suggest there be a bronze plaque on which would be engraved, the Institute's Credo of the Peaceful Traveler. It is expressed in the following affirmations :

"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:
(1) Journey with an open mind and gentle heart.
(2) Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter.
(3) Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains all life.
(4) Appreciate all cultures I discover.
(5) Respect and thank my hosts for their welcome.
(6) Offer my hand in friendship to everyone I meet.
(7) Support travel services that share these views and act upon them and, by my spirit, words and actions.
(8) Encourage others to travel the world in peace."

With those thoughtful words as your guide, you are better prepared to face the world.


Continued from top of page

In making the announcement, His Majesty King Abdullah II said, "The peaceful environment that we enjoy in Jordan today makes my country a natural home for Global Summit 2000. Through the Summit, we build bridges to connect mankind and recognize the importance of understanding the diverse cultures that we are today. The Summit is dedicated to the commitment my late father King Hussein made to instill mutual understanding and peace among people in this region and in the global village. For Jordan, the travel industry is a vitally important dimension of sustainable growth. It can be the engine to move ahead as the new millennium dawns."

The Summit plans were announced at a press conference with Harvey Golub, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express Company, who will deliver a keynote address at the Summit. His Excellency Akel Bitaji, Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and Louis D'Amore, founder and president of IIPT were on hand, along with Michael Stolowitzky, American Express Director of International Business Development.

Mr. Golub said, "American Express is honored to play a major role in the Global Summit. While it's obvious that peace makes a difference for the travel and tourism industry, it's exciting to think that travel and tourism can also make a difference for peace." "We believe that tourism can have a profound impact on creating a climate for peace by generating economic growth and stable employment. Tourism also educates travelers about other cultures, thereby fostering understanding. While world leaders often meet to discuss opportunities for peace, it's rare that they would view a single industry as playing such a powerful role in sustaining Global Summit of Peace through Tourism Announcement peace. This Global Summit will demonstrate that the travel industry has a serious commitment to fostering peace through regional cooperation.

King Abdullah has personally invited world leaders who are dedicated to building peace to participate in the summit, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, currently Israel's Minister for Regional Cooperation and former Prime Minister, has already accepted the King's invitation to speak. H.E. Biltaji said, "We are truly honored by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism's dedication of the summit to King Hussein, and we applaud the leadership role that American Express and other travel and tourism leaders have played in building the bridges to peace through regional tourism promotion."

Louis D'Amore, founder and president of IIPT, said the Summit theme will be, "Building a Culture of Peace Through Tourism". He said the primary aims of the event were to demonstrate support of the world's largest industry for continuation of the peace process in the Middle East and other regions of the world; build global awareness for tourism as an engine for economic growth that helps establish a climate for peace; to launch a series of millennium projects focused on peace through tourism; and to lead an initiative in support of the United Nation's International Year for the Culture of Peace.

The World Travel and Tourism Councils and the World Tourism Organization endorse the Summit. Twenty prestigious international organizations have become founding members of a Coalition of Partners for World Peace Through Tourism. Among them are the Africa Travel Association, Caribbean Tourism Organization, European Travel Commission, International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, International Federation of Women Travel Organizations, Middle East and Mediterranean Travel and Tourism Association, Professional Innkeepers International, Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped, Society of Incentive Travel Executives, the International Tourism Exchange, Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Association and others. Each partner is committed to a Millennium Project that contributes to the vision of "Tourism as a Global Peace Industry" The projects will all be launched at the Global Summit. Summit sponsors, in addition to Title Sponsor, American Express, include Gold Sponsor, Air Harbour Technologies, Silver Sponsor, International Traders, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Zara Investments; Bronze Sponsors, b-there.com and Travel World News.

The IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage, and a peaceful, sustainable world. Royal Jordanian Airlines is the official air carrier for the Summit; Grand Hyatt Amman is the Summit Headquarters Hotel and International Traders, Amman, Conference Manager.

Global Summit Information Contacts IIPT - www IIPT.org 8023-253-2658, 802-253-2645 (fax),
summit@iipt.org (email)

Jordan Tourist Board, NA; www.seejordan.org,
202-244-1451,202-244-0534 (fax)
Online registration for the Global Summit. www.b-there.com/iiptglobalsummit.

Air Highways to Peace: Peace Through Tourism Posters and Supermaps at all participating airports starting with our original 30 gateways. Airlines to provide incentive to their employees and customers.
Apples for Africa: Supporting Peace by providing Internet tools and training.
Associations in Action: Africa Travel Association countries ( EcoTourism Symposium, Cape Town Congress 2001, Air access story); Caribbean Tourism Association (Festivals, Mardis Gras, Culture, Coalition Partners): Pacific Asia Tourism Association (Healing the wounds in Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia); European Travel Commission (Easing tourism through open visas and borders); World Tourism Organization (joint Congress). Similar reports on ACTA, ASTA, ARTA, SATH and others who support the concept of Peace Through Tourism
Education for Peace. How schools, universities and media can unite with the travel industry in launching new awareness programs.
Landmarks of Peace: Installing and dedicating Peace Parks. Restoration of historic and sacred monuments. Amex World Monument Watch and similar projects. Bijon's great
African Landmarks.
Partners for Peace: Partnerships of nations that result in regional/cross-border tour packages. Native Tourism, resolving disputes and fair settlement of treaties with Indigenous peoples in North America and beyond.
Railways to Peace: Railway tours that cross international borders.

Roads and Trails to Peace: Hiking trails that cross international borders. Road Shows to link communities in a tourism peace project. The great Silk Road from China to Europe and the Middle East.

More to come in our preview of this exciting and worthwhile edition.


TOURISM AS A "GLOBAL PEACE INDUSTRY" ATTRACTED INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF TOURISM MINISTERS AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERS TO 1st GLOBAL SUMMIT ON PEACE THROUGH TOURISM, AMMAN, JORDAN, NOV, 2000

Photo (from left): Hon. Mike A. Gizo, President of the Africa Travel Association,His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Louis D'Amore, founder and President of IIPT.


UNDER THE ROYAL PATRONAGE OF HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH II. Tourism Ministers and leaders represent more than 30 Countries including China, Cambodia, Switzerland, Croatia, Ghana and USA.
Ministers of Tourism and travel industry leaders from around the world gathered on November 8, 2000, in Amman, Jordan to launch tourism as a "Global Peace Industry." The occasion was the opening of the first Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism to be held under the Royal Patronage of King Abdullah II. Organized by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) and sponsored by American Express, the Summit will pay tribute to King Hussein's legacy of peace. This announcement was made today by Lou D'Amore, Founder and President, IIPT, at a special press conference held during the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) World Congress.

Leaders who have confirmed their attendance at this momentous event, represent some 30 countries from China to Switzerland, Ghana, Cambodia, Croatia and U.S. The Summit, with delegates expected to come from 70 countries, will serve as a demonstration of support by the world's largest industry for a continuation of the peace process in the Middle East and other regions of the world. Focus of the Summit will be: "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" in support of the UN International Year for the Culture of Peace.

Featured plenary speakers included Harvey Golub, Chairman and CEO, American Express; Hon. Mary Robinson, Chairman, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Shimon Peres, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Jean Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel & Tourism Council; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization; M.P. Bezbaruah, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, India; Dr. Maritta-Koch-Weser, Director General, World Conservation Union; Hon. Michael Afedi Gizo, President, Africa Travel Association and Minister of Tourism, Ghana; Hon. Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations; Jean Louis Sarbib, Vice President World Bank Middle East and North Africa Region. H.E. Akel Biltaji, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is Master of Ceremonies; James M. Li, Executive Vice President, American Express and Chairman, MEMTTA Americas, Plenary Moderator; Louis J. D'Amore, Founder and President, IIPT, Summit Chair; and Dr. Noel Brown, President, Friends of the United Nations, Summit Secretary General.

Pre- Summit Activities

Pre-Summit activities will include a Ministers' Roundtable on the "Role of Governments in Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism"; the inaugural meeting of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism as well as the inaugural meetings of IIPT's four international networks(Educators, Rural and Community, Spiritual and Indigenous; and a Regional Educators meeting. "Open Space" will be provided for other groups wishing to meet around common interests.

The World Travel & Tourism Council will hold its Fall Executive Committee meeting, chaired by American Express' Harvey Golub, in conjunction with the Summit in Amman.

 

Summit Highlights

The Summit began with an Spiritual Gathering at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism visited by Pope John Paul ll during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Dead Sea will be the dramatic setting for the welcome reception the same evening, sponsored by Zara Investments and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts at the Movenpick's Dead Sea resort.

Opening ceremonies followed by the plenary sessions take place Thursday, November 9 at the Grand Hyatt Amman. The opening day lunch, sponsored by Air Harbour Technologies, is dedicated to the presentation of the first King Hussein Peace Awards, presented to the individual and to the organization with outstanding achievement in contribution to the vision of "Tourism as a Global Peace Industry." In the evening, a Reception and Gala Banquet, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will showcase "Jordan, The Cradle of Civilization."

Concurrent Sessions on Thursday and Friday, will include "Bridging the Have and Have Not Regions of the World," "Healing the Wounds of Conflict," "Educating for a Culture of Peace through Tourism" and "Marketing and Development of Jordan and the Region." A media forum luncheon focusing on

"The Role of the Media in Creating a Culture of Peace," will feature prominent international print and broadcast journalists. Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, NBC Today Show and the Travel Channel, panel moderator, will be joined by Richard Bangs, Editor-at-Large, Expedia; Keith Bellow, Editor in Chief, National Geographic Traveler; Graham Boynton, Travel Editor, The Daily Telegraph, Nicolla Hewitt, Producer, NBC Today Show and Rana Sabagh-Gargour, Editor in Chief, Jordan Times. Sir Ian Prosser, Chairman, Bass Plc, as luncheon sponsor will open the forum.

The Closing Plenary on Friday will feature an overview of Summit highlights and outcomes, and the launching of "Millennium Projects" by members of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism.

Dedication of Global Peace Parks Project

At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the New Millennium, a Global Peace Parks Project will be launched from Bethany Beyond the Jordan with the dedication of an international peace park. The grand finale of the week of "Peace Through Tourism" will be a benefit peace concert organized by Astar Tours. It will take place in Amman and be open to the public.

Summit sponsors, in addition to Title Sponsor, American Express, include Gold Sponsor, Air Harbour Technologies; Silver Sponsors, Archaeology Magazine, Bass Plc, International Traders, Movenpick, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Zara

Investments; Bronze Sponsors, ASTA Agency Management, b-there.com, Leisure Travel News, Travel Counselor and Travel World News.

The IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage, and a peaceful, sustainable world.

Royal Jordanian Airlines is the official air carrier for the Summit; Austrian Airlines is a cooperating carrier. Grand Hyatt Amman is the Summit Headquarter Hotel; other Summit Hotels include Amman Marriott Hotel, Radisson SAS Hotel Amman, and Amman Inter-Continental Hotel. International Traders, Amman, is providing Conference Management services.

Global Summit Information Contacts:
IIPT website: www.iipt.org
Email: summit@iipt.org
Tel. 802 253-2658; Fax: 802 253-2645.
Media: The Bradford Group, email:bradfordmktg@aol.com
Tel: (212) 447-0027, Fax: (212) 725-8253
Jordan Tourism Board, NA: www.seejordan.org
Tel. 703 243-7404; Fax:703 243-7406
Online Registration: www.b-there.com/iiptglobalsummit.

Karen Hoffman
Media Relations for the Summit
The Bradford Group
347 Fifth Avenue, Suite 610
New York, New York 10016
tel: (212) 447-0027, fax: (212) 725-8253

Announcement.

Cape Town, South Africa --- The announcement of the first IIPT African Peace Through Tourism Conference to take place March 3-7, 2002 in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa, was made at the Annual Africa Travel Association (ATA) Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, May 20-25, 2001. In a joint statement, Louis D'Amore, President and Founder, of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), organizer of the conference, Mira Berman, ATA Executive Director and Fiona Martin, Coordinator on behalf of the Mpumalanga Tourism Authority (MTA), South Africa, said "the purpose of this historic conference is to foster African awareness of the social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits of tourism and the role it can play in facilitating an environment of reconciliation and peace on the continent."

Mira Berman, ATA Executive Director said that ATA, as a founding member of IIPT's Coalition of Partners for Peace Through Tourism, has taken a leadership role in this African Peace Through Tourism Conference." ATA's Immediate Past President, The Honorable Michael Afedi Gizo, MP of the Republic of Ghana, and former Minister of Tourism of Ghana, was named Co-Chair of the Conference together with The Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. Hon. Gizo, then ATA president, was a keynote speaker at both the IIPT Global Conference Glasgow, Scotland, October 1999, as well as the first Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism held in Amman, Jordan, November, 2000.

The Conference is expected to bring an estimated 400 delegates from all corners of the African continent, in addition to other international delegates with special expertise. Lou D'Amore expressed hope that the African Conference will build on the success of the first three IIPT Global Conferences on Peace Through Tourism as well as on the First Global Summit in Amman, which was held under the auspices of His Majesty King Abdullah II, with American Express as Title Sponsor. The African initiative will be the first of a series of regional conferences and symposia leading up to the Second Global Summit that will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, October 14-17, 2002.

Fiona Martin, speaking on behalf of the host organization, the Mpumalanga Tourism Authority, stated "Hosting this prestigious event will be the forerunner of other conferences throughout Africa, and the beginning of a wave of practical ideas that can assist in building a united, peaceful continent, through tourism." She also noted "the MTA's humble initiative should aim to bring our brothers and sisters of Africa together to share ideas on how to make our beautiful continent peaceful and economically sustainable. To use tourism as a catalyst for economic, environmental and human resource development is a unique concept and one that has great potential to facilitate Small and Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) development in the tourism sector and contribute to poverty alleviation. The conference will be fundamentally 'African' in nature and the focus will be on practical and sustainable outcomes that would benefit all delegates, in their own country." The conference is aligned to many of the Millennium African Recovery Programme (MAP) key objectives, as initiated by South African President Thabo Mbeki, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, especially those that relate to conflict prevention and human resource development.

Conference Objectives
To provide a forum of leading creative thinkers and decision makers to discuss and develop practical mechanisms to facilitate initiatives that will contribute to:

• Identification of directions and specific bridge building projects and programs, including initiatives for co-operation towards socially and environmentally responsible rural and community based tourism linking developing and emerging economies.

• The development of a 21st Century Agenda for "African Peace Through Tourism.

• The establishment of one or more IIPT Chapters that will continue to promote "Peace Through Tourism" in Africa.

• Presentation and discussion of "Success Stories " and models of " Best Practice" from Africa which demonstrate the conference theme and objectives.

• Healing the Wounds of Conflict through Tourism.

• Educating for a Culture of Peace through Tourism

• Accessible Tourism and Hospitality for all Travelers

Related Conference Activities

• Government - Industry Round Table

• Pre/post conference tours of the province and country

• Community and rural based active involvement in various events associated with the conference and program

• Youth component

• Opening Ceremony with the participation of the high profile leaders and Conference Patron

• Exciting theme evenings, that both educate and entertain

IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage, and a peaceful, sustainable world.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
IIPT African Peace Through Tourism Conference Information
Contacts:
In the USA: IIPT website: www.iipt.org;
Email: africa@iipt.org; Tel ( 802) 253-2658; Fax: (802)253-2645.
ATA website: www.africa-ata.org
Tel (212) 447-0027; fax (212) 725-8253

In South Africa: Mpumalanga Tourism Authority
www.mpumalanga.com
Tel: 27-8-36535145; Fax: 27-13-6502106

Conference Secretariat
Email: legamus1@netactive.co.za
Email: lchalker@mweb.co.za