The first European Conference on Tourism and Peace is being organised on October 21^st - 24^th,  by Stenden University in the Netherlands in collaboration with the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism and partnership with UNWTO and UNEP.

The conference is in support of the United Nations declared International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001 - 2010) and the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The aim of the conference is to provide a forum for the study and discussion of tourism and peace issues in tourism and tourism-related areas of leisure, recreation and hospitality studies.

The realities of the 21^st century, including globalization, immigration, terrorism, home-grown terror, made and natural catastrophes, conflicts, stereotypes, perceptions and rising poverty necessitate a closer look at the role of tourism

The Tourism and Peace Conference is focused on all aspects of Tourism and Leisure oriented to peace, cooperation and conflict solutions. Tourism and peace is broader in scope and deals with many aspects contributing to peace, such as appropriate planning, international cooperation, peace through tourism, tourism and diplomacy, tourism in conflict-ridden areas, how tourism sometimes does not result in peace, tourism and terrorism, tourism and human rights, peace museums, tourism and attitude change, tourism and borders, tourism and cross cultural behaviour and understanding.