The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is proud to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The MOU provides for cooperation between UNWTO and IIPT in implementing activities and events related to tourism and peace in response to the needs and interests of UNWTO Member States, the international tourism sector and the international community; and to develop policy recommendations to enhance the role of tourism in the peace building agenda.
UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai and
IIPT Founder & President, Lou D’Amore
IIPT was born in response to global issues of the mid-1980’s: increasing East – West tensions; the growing gap between have and have- not regions of the world; a deteriorating environment; loss of bio-diversity; and the peaking of terrorism. It was born in 1986, the UN International Year of Peace with a vision of Travel and Tourism becoming the world’s first “Global Peace Industry” – an industry that promotes and supports the belief that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.”
With its first global conference in Vancouver 1988, and since - IIPT has been dedicated to fostering and facilitating a ‘higher purpose of tourism’ – tourism that contributes to international understanding among the diverse peoples and cultures of our global family; international cooperation among nations; an improved quality of environment; preservation of biodiversity; enhancement of cultures and heritage; sustainable development; poverty reduction; and the resolution of conflict - and through these initiatives, help bring about a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, emphasized the potential of tourism in peace building and reiterated the important role of IIPT in contributing to a culture of peace. “Tourism can be one of the most effective tools in peace building as it brings people from around the world together, allowing them to exchange ideas, beliefs and different points of view; these exchanges are the very foundation of mutual understanding, tolerance and human enrichment.”
IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore said, “We are most honored to enter into this MOU with the World Tourism Organization. UNWTO has supported the initiatives of IIPT since its founding in 1986 and has been a Partner with us in major IIPT conferences and summits beginning with our First Global Conference in Vancouver – on through to our most recent 5th IIPT African Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. We look forward to the opportunities presented by this MOU and to further collaboration with UNWTO in promoting a ‘Culture of Peace through Tourism’.” |