Tourism promotes international understanding and co-operation among nations, thereby encouraging world peace. It also contributes to sustainable development, improving communities and protecting the environment.
This is according to Louis D’Amore, International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Founder and President, who recently spoke to Tourism Update about what to expect at the IPT World Symposium, which takes place at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, from February 16-19, 2015.
According to D’Amore, tourism is not just about filling plane seats and hotel beds. “Tourism touches every aspect of society,” he says. Furthermore, he says tourism is the largest source for foreign exchange for the majority of developing countries and also a major producer of jobs. D’Amore refers to the industry’s ability to promote peace and sustainability and also to create jobs and reduce poverty as a “higher paradigm” of tourism.
People in the travel and tourism industry interested in this “higher paradigm” of tourism should attend the symposium, says D’Amore. “This is not simply tourism for a profit.”
The symposium aims to identify strategies and best practice in cultivating productive, sustainable, peaceful and welcoming communities through tourism, culture and sports; and to spot the potential roles of tourism, culture and sports in reconciliation and socio-economic redevelopment of countries that have experienced conflict, with a view toward building sustainable and peaceful nations.
The symposium is made up of half- and full-day workshops that will run concurrently on Monday February 16 as well as a three-day conference from Tuesday, February 17 to Thursday, February 19.
For more information, or to register to attend the symposium, click here.
Comments (0)
Comments are closed