July 2013
Issue

UNWTO General Assembly to feature

IIPT Breakfast

 

25 years

 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.

 

Louis D'AmoreIn making the announcement, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore stated:

“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

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.

 

IIPT Peace Park - Pattaya, Thailand

Dedication of IIPT Peace Park, Pattaya as Pattaya declares itself as a city of peace as legacy of IIPT Third Global Summit

Skål International Joins with IIPT in Launching
Peace Towns Initiative

 

25 yearsThe International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is proud to announce the IIPT/Skål Peace Town project, a joint partnering initiative with Skål international. A goal has been set for the dedication of 300 Peace Towns and Villages in the first year of the project, each committed to building a culture of peace in their respective communities.

 

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.

 

IIPT Peace Park_ThailandUnity Peace Park, CanadaUganda Peace Park - Tree Planting_IIPT
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.”

 

Mok Singh - SKALSkål 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.”

 

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. 

IIPT Peace Park Dedication_Zambia
Dedication of IIPT International Peace Park at Victoria Falls, Zambia

IIPT Announces Launch of Peace Tours Morocco

25 years

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is pleased to announce the launch of Peace Tours Morocco as its second “Legacy Project” commemorating the 25th Anniversary since its First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace held in Vancouver 1988.

 

Skal

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 – the world’s largest organization of travel and tourism industry executives with more than 18,000 members in 425 cities in 85 countries and all sectors of the travel and tourism industry.

 

MunditineraMunditinera-Cultural Bridges International is a tour operator in existence for more than 28 years. It has developed partnering relationships throughout Morocco that enables it to provide high quality, authentic, and responsible tours.

 

A portion of all revenues from the tours will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva in support of their programs for victims of armed conflict. 

 

“Peace Tours Morocco” is an eight day journey that offers an authentic and enriching experience of the strong sense of culture and deep-rooted history of Morocco encompassing its ancient Roman civilization, Imperial towns of the Middle Ages, and ancient villages with opportunities to experience the welcoming spirit and hospitality of Moroccans while interacting with the local population.

 

Morocco2Morocco1Morocco4

Photos: Imperial City of Fez - Medina (left), Roman ruins at Volubilis (middle), Children of Morocco (right)

The tour includes all the must see’s of Morocco including Casablanca; Rabat - the Middle Age Imperial Town and capital of Morocco; picturesque mountain town of Ifrane, a famous winter sports center; forest of Azrou; Arab-Andalouse town of Tetouan; beautiful mountain town of Chaouen; Imperial cities of Fez and Meknes; Roman ruins at Volubilis; and the cosmopolitan city of Marrakech. Sight-see and explore palaces, monuments, museums and the world famous Hassan II Mosque. Enjoy leisurely shopping in Morocco’s famous souks and interactions with the welcoming, hospitable people of Morocco.

 

Hassan II Mosque

 

Optional six day Extensions are available to Andalusia (Spain), Canary Islands (Spain), Italy and the Sahara.

Sales of “Peace Tours Morocco” are commissionable. Skal members interested in marketing “Peace Tours Morocco” to their clients are invited to contact Skal International Headquarters, email: skal@skal.org

Other travel agents and tour operators who may be interested are invited to contact Mr. Pier Magliano, email: p.magliano@munditinera.net.  For more information, please click here

Need for Water Pump in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

 

JavidThe 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.


Fr. Javid has asked IIPT for assistance in raising 2500 Euros (US$ 3,200) to install a borehole and water pump. The proposed water borehole and pump will provide clean and safe drinking water for an entire catchment of the Christian community of Muzzaffarabad and will be instrumental in preventing waterborne diseases, such as dysentery and diarrhea especially for the elderly and children under 5.

 

Your assistance in helping Fr. Javid in this need would be greatly appreciated. Fr. Javid can be reached at: frakramjgill@yahoo.com

 

AbbottabadAbbottabad 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.

City of Muzaffarabad

Universities from Regions throughout the World are Founding Members of IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities

25 yearsThe International Institute for Peace through Tourism has received an enthusiastic response to its newly formed IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities (IIPT – CCU). More than twenty universities have responded from regions throughout the world including Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and South Pacific to become founding members of the consortium.

 

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: 

University of Arizona, U.S.A.      Nelson Mandela University, S. Africa
Bahamas Vantage College, Bahamas Odessa State Economics University, Ukraine
Center for Peace Research and Peace Education, Austria New York University (NYU), U.S.A.
Comilla University, Bangladesh Payap University, Thailand
CQUniversity-Australia, Australia  Purdue University, U.S.A.
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh The University of the South Pacific
Humboldt State University, U.S.A. Stenden University, Netherlands
George Washington University, U.S.A. University of Western Sydney, Australia
Makerere University, Uganda University of Zululand, South Africa

 

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.

Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II

Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan

President Finnbogadottir
Vigdis Finnbogadottir,
President of Iceland

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.

 

LIUTEBMInvitation to Universities

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.

 

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:
IIPT Website: www.iipt.org
Tel: (802) 253-8671
Fax: (802) 253-2645
Email: ljd@iipt.org

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