IIPT FEATURED AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) was again featured at World Travel Market on November 11th with a theme of: Peace through Tourism: The Next Twenty Years The November 11th date was particularly significant together with the symbolism of the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month as it was the precise 90th anniversary of the end of World War I – the “War to end all wars.” Nine million people were killed in what has been called the “Great War.” Yet, as history has shown, another 100 million people were killed in the remaining 82 years of the 20th century as a result of conflict – most of them innocent men, women and children. We have begun this 21st Century with conflict that has now gone on longer than that first “Great War.” The event began with a brief video featuring “Voices of the first 20 years” that included President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, both of whom sent video-taped messages to the 1st IIPT Global Conference in Vancouver, 1988; Kind Abdullah II, Patron of the 1st Global Summit, Amman 2000; Harvey Golub, Chairman, American Express and World Travel & Tourism Council and others.
Featured speakers who shared their insights, ideas, ideals – and vision on tourism’s contribution to peace in the next 20 years included: Ms. Fiona Jeffery, Chair, World Travel Market: Dr. Dawid de Villiers, Chairman, UN World Tourism Organization Strategic Group, and Special Adviser to the UNWTO Secretary-General on Ethical Matters; Ms. Janice Antonson, Chair, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Mr. Chris Russo, President and CEO, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA); Ms. Michele McKenzie, Chair, Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC); Mr. Dennis Castleman, Vice President, Inter-governmental Affairs, Travel Industry Association of America (TIA); Ms. Hulya Aslantas, President, SKAL International; David Jones, Director General, World Youth, Student & Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE TC); Mr. Birger Bäckman, Senior Advisor, United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA).
I Peace through Tourism: The Next Twenty Years As well, November 8-11 was the precise 8th Anniversary
of IIPT’s 1st Global Summit on Peace though Tourism, Amman 2000 and launch of the
IIPT Global Peace Parks Program from Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site
of Christ’s baptism, precisely on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of
the 11th month, in the 1st year of the new Millennium.
|
|||||||||||||||
"PEACE THROUGH COMMERCE" CONFERENCE EXPANDS MULTI-SECTOR COLLABORATION IIPT was proud to again partner
with George Washington University’s Institute of Corporate Responsibility
(ICR) as well
as FLOW, an organization dedicated to creating sustainable peace
through
entrepreneurial spirit, and other leading organizations for a three-day "Peace
Through Commerce" conference at George Washington University
from November 13 to 15.
|
|||||||||||||||
2009 World Peace Tours Announced
For specific information about these itineraries Please click here Travel agents are invited to collaborate with IIPT in promoting these tours to their clients and to earn commissions from sale of the tours. King says, “This will be an opportunity for agents to earn a commission and also help promote conscientious tourism. We would like to enlist travel agents’ assistance as we continue efforts to make travel and tourism the world’s first global peace industry.”
|
|||||||||||||||
World Peace Tour To the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan Please join Sacred Himalaya Travel for the 2nd IIPT World PeaceTour to Bhutan. Deeply informed by Buddhist beliefs and values, the Bhutanese practice kindness and compassion as a way of life. Uniquely governed for “Gross National Happiness” Bhutan is under the guidance of a wise King who balances material with spiritual development. You sense from the moment you land, that this tiny Kingdom is cared for with respect, where you’ll hear only the mountain wind, fluttering prayer flags, a soft rush of rivers and the frequent laughter of its people.
The World Peace Tour to Bhutan combines a cultural tour with stays in lodges and an overnight with a Bhutanese family in their traditional farmhouse. Focused in the Bumthang area, with its gentle wide valleys and ancient spiritual sites, we’ll take easy day hikes along a sparkling river and climb a gentle trail under tall pines to visit a small nunnery.. Share stories and songs with young students at a primary school in the high rural valley of Tang. We’ll meet with a Lama and listen to his insights and wisdom. Keeping a flexible schedule, experience the gentleness and good humor of Bhutan’s warm-hearted people and take time to receive and share kindness along the way. This journey offers participants a deep inner and outer experience of peace. May it ripple further into the world on your return. The Tour is organized by Sacred Himalaya Travel as part of IIPT's World Peace Tours program Please see article below regarding Sacred Himalaya Travel. 2nd Annual World Peace Tour to The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan Outline Itinerary Sacred Himalaya Travel Bhutanese Owner/Guide |
|||||||||||||||
IIPT President Addresses Iran Tourism Conference IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore this past week addressed delegates from 48 countries at the 1st International Tour Operators Conference in Tehran. The aim of the historic conference was to familiarize the high level delegates with Iran’s tourism attractions and to explore possibilities of strengthening ties through tourism. Mr. D’Amore began his address acknowledging Iran as one of the world's
oldest continuous civilizations, with historical and urban settlements
dating back to 4000 BC and a land rich in history, science and technology,
the arts, literature and culture. He suggested that with two thirds
of its population under 25, Iran was a country with a great future. While President Khatami’s vision has had setbacks in the first years of the 21st century, Mr. D’Amore suggested there was now an opportunity to begin the dialogue anew – with travel and tourism playing a key role in its fulfillment. He stated that “Humanity is currently witnessing - and shaping, the most rapid and significant paradigm shift in human history – a paradigm shift of major demographic, economic, ecological and geo-political dimensions.” Mr. D’Amore briefly outlined the challenges of an exploding population – 90% of which is in developing countries; persistent poverty in certain regions of the world; ecological decline and climate change; economic disparities and the current economic crisis. “To meet the challenges of the unprecedented global issues facing our one common home – and our one common future as a global family,” Mr. D’Amore stated, “would require a a global family at peace with itself – and a paradigm shift to collaboration at all levels, and by all sectors of society.” “This human journey of collaboration can only begin by first building bridges of understanding between civilizations, cultures and religions.” “Towards this end,” Mr. D’Amore concluded, “IIPT would give serious consideration to holding a conference in Iran with the aim of promoting “A Dialogue Among Civilizations through Tourism” in support of the 1998 proposal of President Khatami. For the full text of Mr. D’Amore’s address, please click
here.
|
|||||||||||||||
About IIPT The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty reduction; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world. It is founded on a vision of the world’s largest industry, travel and tourism – becoming the world’s first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.” For more information: |
|||||||||||||||
|
eTurboNews
is
proud to be the sponsor for this IIPT
Newsletter |
IPT 20th Anniversary
Support for Olympic Truce Leading up to 2010 Winter Olympics
Keynote speaker Steven Killelea, Global
Peace Index (GPI) founder and Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist
provided research demonstrating that per capita gross domestic product
correlates strongly with peacefulness, and peace can be correlated
with a company's international business activities. For every 10 places
along the GPI, per capita income increases by approximately US$3,000,
and retail expenditures increase in line with per capita income. 
Walter Robb, President and
Chief Operating Officer of Whole Foods Market, said, "Commerce
plays an essential role in security, as efforts to promote economic
freedom reap measurable rewards
of peace and profits. The business sector must embrace a leadership
role in promoting peace through economic opportunity, leading to new
products, markets, and a world of possibility."
The
International Institute for Peace through Tourism is most pleased
to announce its World Peace Tours Program for 2009 with 8 exciting
tours to different regions of the world. The tours were recently
highlighted at TheTradeShow in Orlando building on the recent partnership
agreement between ASTA and IIPT. 
Lou
D’Amore, the president of IIPT has asked Donald King, who serves
as Ambassador at Large for IIPT, to provide leadership to the World
Peace Tours initiative. King says, “Our first World Peace Tours—to
Oman and to Bhutan--proved successful in achieving the goals of IIPT,
and exhibiting at TheTradeShow has been a positive experience in
helping us as we expand our tour offerings.”
Seven
tours for 2009 have currently been designated as “World Peace
Tours”:
Tucked into the folds of the rugged Eastern Himalayas--blessed with some of the world's highest and youngest mountains, glacial lakes, and an intricate network of deep forests rich with life--Bhutan is one of the world's most beautiful , environmental jewels.
Tshetem Norbu is a gentle soul who embodies Buddhist ethics,integrity and great good humor. Originally from Eastern Bhutan, Tshetem owns and operates Sacred Himalaya Travel in Bhutan. 
Wendy Erd has traveled over the past several years in Bhutan, and shares a deep love of Bhutanese wisdom and ways. Working with Tshetem as Sacred Himalaya Travel of Alaska, LLC, she brings over 25 years experience of traveling and staying in small villages in Asia, a rough and tumble adaptability as a former Alaskan salmon fisherman, and her daily life as an expat in Asia, to help arrange tours, and smooth the unexpected. As a trip leader, she seeks opportunities for the small moments of humor and grace when travelers can experience the extraordinary connecting with the ordinary lives of others. 
Mr. D’Amore recalled that ten years earlier, in 1998, then Iranian
President Khatami – proposed “A Dialogue of Civilizations” with the
aim of leaving behind a century of inequality, violence, and conflict,
and with the intent of benefitting from the achievements and experiences
of all civilizations to begin a new century of humanity, understanding,
and durable peace. President Khatami’s proposal was subsequently
adopted by the United Nations as the UN International Year for a
Dialogue Among Civilizations 2001.
