IIPT and Skal International are proud to announce that nineteen villages of Jamaica and the Caribbean will be declaring themselves as IIPT/ Skal Peace Villages on 24 August – Opening Day of the UNWTO General Assembly as Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai, co-hosting Ministers, Hon. Sylvia Masebo, Zambia, Hon. Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe and other dignitaries come together to re-dedicate the IIPT International Peace Park at Victoria Falls.
In making the announcement IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore praised IIPT Caribbean President Diana McIntyre-Pike for her leadership in promoting the peace village concept among Jamaican and Caribbean communities: “It was Diana’s passion and dedication to both community tourism and ‘peace through tourism’ that inspired these communities to become IIPT/Skal Villages of Peace.”
“Let's do it in the Caribbean,” the marketing and PR partner/Representative for the Caribbean Community Tourism family and all IIPT/SKAL Villages will be included in the overall marketing program for the 'Caribbean Community Experience'. All villages are members of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network/Villages as Businesses program.
The following villages will be declaring themselves as IIPT/Skal Villages of Peace while dedicating a Peace Park on 24 August, 2013, Opening Day of the UNWTO General Assembly: Jamaica: Treasure Beach Village –St. Elizabeth; Accompong Maroon Village – St. Elizabeth; Resource Village – Manchester; Albert Town – Trelawny; Axe-n-Adze/Mt.Petro – Hanover; Rastafarian Indigenous Village –St. James; Camrose Village – St. James; Charles Town Maroon Village – Portland; Beeston Spring Village – Westmoreland; Kitson Town Village – St. Catherine; Mandeville TTown /Brooks Park– Manchester. Dominica: Marigot Village; Heart of Dominica Village; Grand Bay Village/Geneva Heritage Park; Newtown/Charlotteville/Castle Comfort. Tortola: Carrot Bay Village. British Virgin Islands: Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda St. Vincent: Greiggs Village.
Towns and Villages anywhere in the world are invited to become an IIPT/Skal Peace Town or Village. Please email: ljd@iipt.org to express your interest.
The Peace Towns/Villages project is a legacy project commemorating IIPT’s 25th anniversary year since its First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace held in Vancouver, Canada 1988. |
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IIPT Member Glendyyr Fick Launches Green Chefs Initiative Ms. Glendyrr Fick, General Manager of Knysna Tourism and IIPT member has successfully launched her “Green Chefs Initiative” with the Knysna Tourism Living Local Green Chefs event this past month in Knysna, South Africa – heart of the Garden Route.
Charmaine Sinclair was the top chef of this year’s inaugural event with her menu of mutton curry with sambals, poppadoms and rice, and a sweet treat of an apple tartlet served with custard and vanilla slice. Charmaine took home a cash prize of R1 000 for her efforts, while each finalist received R 500. All five of the finalists will also participate in a formal cooking training program with Kilzer’s Kitchen Basics during August.
Glendyrr explained that this competition formed part of a bigger project. “The aim of the Knysna Tourism Living Local Green Chefs Initiative is to empower residents of local rural communities within and around the national parks in the Greater Garden Route National Park,” she said. “This will be done by teaching them excellent cooking skills, good business practice and vegetable gardening, accompanied by a sound mentorship program. This project will eventually be implementable at all national parks in South Africa - or even further afield on the continent and across the globe.”
“We are also working on establishing a unique supply chain route, the Eden Slow Food Route, which we hope to support the Green Chefs in sourcing local produce. The emphasis will be on locally produced, wholesome food, produced by locals with great care and integrity,” Glendyrr continued. “These organic producers will also supply to other establishments in the local tourism industry.” To learn more about the Green Chefs initiative or the Eden Slow Food Route, please contact Glendyrr Fick at 044 382 5510 or development@knysna-info.co.za. |
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UNWTO General Assembly to feature IIPT Breakfast
The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is most proud to announce that an IIPT Breakfast will be featured at the UNWTO General Assembly being co-hosted by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe to be held in Livingstone and Victoria Falls Towns from 24th to 29th August, 2013.
“We are most honored to have this opportunity for a presence at the UNWTO General Assembly during our 25th anniversary year and to express our gratitude to the World Tourism Organization for its support of our activities during this entire 25 year period beginning with the First IIPT Global Conference, Vancouver 1988. We are also most grateful to Dr. Patrick Kalifungwa, Vice Chancellor of LIUTEBM University (Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management) for the gracious hosting of the breakfast by LIUTEBM.” Dr. Patrick Kalifungwa, Vice Chancellor of LIUTEBM University said: “As a member of the UNWTO Knowledge Network and home to the IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities, LIUTEBM University is most pleased to sponsor the IIPT Breakfast at this year’s UNWTO General Assembly.”
IIPT has launched a series of 25th Anniversary Legacy projects to commemorate the year beginning with the forming of an IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities (IIPT-CCU) with more than 20 participating universities from regions throughout the world including Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and South Pacific.
The second legacy initiative is “Peace Tours Morocco” - a product developed by IIPT Partner Munditinera – Cultural Bridges International and being distributed throughout the world in collaboration with Skål International. A portion of all revenues from the tours will be donated to the International Red Cross, Geneva in support of their programs for victims of armed conflict.
This past month, a third legacy project was announced - the IIPT/Skål Peace Towns initiative inviting towns and villages throughout the world to become members in a collective commitment to building a culture of peace in their respective communities.
The first 50 IIPT/Skal Peace Towns and Villages will be dedicated during the UNWTO General Assembly. Towns and Villages anywhere in the world are invited to become an IIPT/Skål Peace Town or Village by expressing their interest in an email to: ljd@iipt.org
Two additional 25th anniversary legacy projects will be announced during the IIPT Breakfast. We look forward to seeing you in Zambia – Zimbabwe.
Dedication of IIPT Peace Park, Pattaya as Pattaya declares itself as a city of peace as legacy of IIPT Third Global Summit |
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Skål International Joins with IIPT in Launching
Each IIPT/Skål Peace Town or Village will support a positive and dynamic concept of peace that goes beyond the traditional passive notion of peace as simply the absence of conflict. A Peace Town or Village will therefore be actively committed to promoting values of tolerance, non-violence, gender equality, human rights, youth empowerment, environmental awareness, and sustainable social and economic development. Collaboration between and among IIPT/Skål Peace Towns and Villages will be encouraged as well as information sharing regarding Peace Town/Village initiatives.
   Photos above (left to right): IIPT Peace Park dedication in Pattaya as the city is declared a "City of Peace", Unity Peace Park Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada, IIPT President Louis D'Amore planting the first peace tree at Uganda Martyr's Trail Peace Park.
In announcing the Peace Town/Village project, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore said, “We are most honored that Skål International, the world’s largest membership organization of travel and tourism industry executives, has agreed to join with us on this initiative.” Skål International has more than 18,000 members in 450 cities and 85 countries, and with members from each sector of the industry, is an authoritative voice for the travel and tourism industry.”
Towns and Villages anywhere in the world are invited to become an IIPT/Skal Peace Town or Village. Please email: ljd@iipt.org to express your interest.
The Peace Towns/Villages project is the third legacy project commemorating IIPT’s 25th anniversary year since its First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace held in Vancouver, Canada 1988.
Other legacy initiatives include the IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities which now has more than 20 participating universities from regions throughout the world including Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and South Pacific. The second legacy initiative announced this past month is Peace Tours Morocco – also in partnership with Skål International. Peace Tours Morocco is a product developed by IIPT Partner Munditinera- Cultural Bridges International and is being distributed throughout the world in collaboration with Skal International. A portion of all revenues from the tours will be donated to the International Red Cross, Geneva in support of their programs for victims of armed conflict.
The IIPT/Skål Peace Towns Initiative builds on the foundations of more than 450 IIPT Peace Parks that have been dedicated to Peace in cities and towns throughout the world beginning in 1992 with IIPT’s “Peace Parks Across Canada” project commemorating Canada’s 125th anniversary as a nation.
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Need for Water Pump in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Your assistance in helping Fr. Javid in this need would be greatly appreciated. Fr. Javid can be reached at: frakramjgill@yahoo.com
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Universities from Regions throughout the World are Founding Members of IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities
The newly formed IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities (IIPT – CCU) is housed at Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) in Lusaka, Zambia. Participating universities have agreed to collaborate in providing third and fourth year university students the opportunity to research and write essays on the various dimensions of “Peace through Tourism” with a selection of the best essays being published by LIUTEBM. The publication will be made available to participants at the UNWTO 2013 General Assembly being hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls in August 2013.
Founding universities include:
Commemoration of IIPT 25th Anniversary Year The IIPT – CCU is the first of IIPT’s Legacy Projects commemorating the 25th anniversary year of its First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vial Force for Peace (Vancouver 1988). Some 800 persons from 67 countries participated in the conference that featured video-taped messages from Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan in the Opening Ceremony and Honorary Chairman of the Conference H.E. Vigdis Finnbogadottir, President of Iceland – the first elected woman Head of State in the world.
The First IIPT Global Conference 1988 first introduced the concept of Sustainable Tourism Development. It also introduced a paradigm of “Tourism for a Higher Purpose” – tourism that contributes to: - Promoting international understanding among peoples and cultures - Collaboration among nations; - Protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity; - Enhancing cultures and valuing heritage; - Sustainable development; - Poverty reduction; and - Healing wounds of conflict and reconciliation through tourism, culture and Sport.
In commemorating its 25th anniversary year, IIPT is launching a series of “Legacy Projects” the first of which is the IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities.
As several of IIPT’s conferences and summits – and two of its conference Declarations – the “Amman Declaration on Peace through Tourism” (an official document of the U.N.), and the “Lusaka Declaration on Tourism and Climate Change” resulting from the 2011 IIPT Lusaka Conference on Tourism and Climate Change, have emphasized the importance of drawing on the “ancient wisdom, knowledge and values of Indigenous Peoples,” the area of research in the first year will be: “Methods of conflict resolution and reconciliation in the ancient traditions of Indigenous Peoples.”
Student essays will also suggest how these methods might be applied in current conflict situations and the role that tourism, culture and sport can play in contributing to the enhancement of these methods.
Third and fourth year students at participating universities are being invited to submit a paper not to exceed 2500 words. A selection of the best papers will be published by LIUTEBM with students and their professors being identified as the authors.
Beginning next year, participating universities will be able to suggest topics for research based on the overall theme of ‘Peace through Tourism’ including the role of tourism in the seven areas indicated in the above “Tourism for a Higher Purpose” paradigm.
Other universities interested in becoming Founding Members of the IIPT – CCU are invited to contact: Louis D’Amore, Email: ljd@iipt.org, with a copy to Kristen@iipt.org.
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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: |
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Diana is a pioneer and internationally acclaimed expert in community tourism who actively promotes community tourism through her Countrystyle Community Tourism Network. She believes that tourists seeking authentic community tourism will be more interested in experiencing communities that have committed themselves to “peace, harmony, love and unity for all citizens.” 
“Winning this competition has given me such encouragement and the confidence to believe that cooking is not only my passion, but that I am good at it too!” Charmaine exclaimed. “Now I feel that I can confidently take part in even bigger competitions. So thank you, Knysna Tourism – and Glendyrr in particular – for giving me this opportunity to learn even more.”
In making the announcement, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore stated:
Skål International President, Mok Singh stated, “Skål International is delighted to join with the prestigious International Institute for Peace through Tourism in the execution of this laudable project. Establishing Peace Towns and Villages throughout the world is completely consistent with our core values to build collaterals for peace. These Peace Towns and Villages will stand as our commitment to the ideal of World peace. We look forward with confidence to our ongoing cooperation with IIPT in this and other projects.” 
The city of Muzaffarabad serves as the capital of Azad Kashmir. There are about 30 Catholic families living in Muzaffarabad who are extremely poor and facing very severe problems in gaining access to clean drinking water. IIPT Pakistan President, Fr. Akram Javid, is the Parish priest of Abbottabad Parish which includes Muzaffarabad within its parish boundary.
Abbottabad parish is one of the most extensive parishes in the diocese of Rawalpindi/Islamabad - Pakistan. The major part of the parish consists of rural areas where most people live in pockets according to the availability of green pastures for their animals which provide subsistence living. As the parish priest of Abbottabad, Fr. Javid is responsible for the Catholic communities living in Abbottabad and other communities of the region.
