International Institute for Peace Through Tourism News Updates for ATC Readers
  April 2017 |
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UNWTO-IIPT Global Summit Website Now Open for Registration
As an official event of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the UNWTO-IIPT Global Summit will feature plenary sessions with world leaders and leaders of the travel and tourism industry addressing the contribution of travel and tourism to key global issues related to sustainable development and peace. As with all past IIPT International Conferences and Summit a full day International Educators Forum; full day International Student/Youth Leadership Forum; and a meeting of the IIPT Global Family chaired by IIPT Chairman, Mr. Timothy Marshall, will take place Sunday, 17 September. IIPT will also continue with a Global Summit program Wednesday, 20 September until noon on Thursday 21 September, the UN International Day of Peace. Following the closing plenary session, the UN International Day of Peace will be commemorated with the dedication of an International Peace Park in Montreal as a legacy of the Summit. Both UNWTO and IIPT are proud to return to the City, Province and Nation that hosted the first major international Conference on Sustainable Tourism in 1994, the IIPT Global Conference: Building a Sustainable World through Tourism – particularly as 2017 is the 150th Birthday of Canada, 375th birthday of Montreal and as IIPT commemorates its 30th Anniversary year by returning to the place of its birth. Timing for the Global Summit is scheduled for the third week of September to coincide with the meeting of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York. Our aim is to gain global media coverage that will heighten awareness among world leaders regarding the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development – and the vital role of tourism in fostering international understanding and peace in our troubled world. Join us as we continue to plan and work toward the vision of travel and tourism as the world’s first global peace industry and supporting the potential of “Every traveler being an Ambassador for Peace.” Venue for the Global Summit is the prestigious Hotel Bonaventure in downtown Montreal, just minutes away from historic “Old Montreal” where you will experience the “Spirit of 375.”
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Global Summit Call for Success Stories and Models of Best Practice The UNWTO – IIPT Global Summit will also feature a series of concurrent sessions with leading professionals and practitioners presenting “Success Stories” and “Models of Best Practice” regarding sustainable tourism and the role of tourism, culture and sport in contributing to poverty reduction, community development, mutual understanding and peace, conflict resolution, environmental enhancement, and accessible travel for all. Persons and organizations interested in presenting a “success story” of “model of best practice” are invited to email ljd with a copy to kunjal.charadva) Similarly, Educators wishing to present in the Educators Forum are invited to email: ljd and Students/Youth Leaders wishing to present in the Student/Youth Leadership Forum are invited to email nishit
Collaboration – Global Impact Session A special session is being held for the first time inviting organizers of travel and tourism conferences throughout the world to come together to share key outcomes and initiatives resulting from their respective conferences – and to explore avenues of collaboration with a view to achieving synergies and a greater global impact in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The UNWTO – IIPT Global Summit website is now open for registration at: 
Dr. Taleb Rifai will again be with us to deliver a keynote address in the Opening Ceremony. The Official Conference of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development Summit will also feature keynote addresses by world leaders and leaders of the travel and tourism industry.
The Global Peace Parks Project builds on the success of IIPT’s 1992 “Peace Parks across Canada” Project commemorating Canada’s 125th birthday as a nation. IIPT conceived and implemented “Peace Parks across Canada” which resulted in 350 Peace Parks being dedicated by cities and towns from St. John’s, Newfoundland on the shores of the Atlantic, across five time zones to Victoria, British Colombia on the shores of the Pacific.
The Peace Parks were all dedicated on October 8, 1992 as a National Peace Keeping Monument was being unveiled in Ottawa and 5,000 Peacekeepers passing in review. Each park was dedicated with a ‘bosco sacro’ – a peace grove of 12 trees, symbolic of Canada’s 10 Provinces and 2 Territories, as a link to one another, and a symbol of hope for the future. Of the more than 25,000 Canada 125 Projects, Peace Parks across Canada was said to be the most significant. |
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Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s first President, are shown planting the first of 6 olive trees brought from Bethany Beyond the Jordan by Amman Mayor, H.E. Akel Biltaji pictured on the right with King Makuni of the Leya People, on whose land Victoria Falls is located, and IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore.
Persons interested in more information on the “IIPT Global Peace Parks Project” are invited to email ljd
IIPT Travel for Peace Campaign
The second flagship project of IIPT’s 30th Anniversary Year is the "IIPT Travel For Peace Campaign" that encourages every traveler to be an "Ambassador for Peace" by practicing the IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler and the ethic inherent in the iconic Padre Johnson portrait of the Global Family reminding us that we are "One Earth One Family.
The “IIPT Travel for Peace Campaign relates to the UNWTO “Travel – Enjoy – Respect” initiative of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. It seeks to engage travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, airlines, cruise ships and other sectors of the global travel and tourism industry to join with IIPT in encouraging every traveler to be an “Ambassador for Peace”
Organizations wishing to become charter members of the IIPT Travel for Peace Campaign in support of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (and Peace) are invited to email: ljd 
Grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience the world and because peace begins with the individual, I affirm my personal responsibility and commitment to:
- Journey with an open mind and gentle heart
- Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter
- Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains all life
- Appreciate all cultures I discover
- Respect and thank my hosts for their welcome
- Offer my hand in friendship to everyone I meet
- Support travel services that share these views and act upon them and,
- By my spirit, words and actions, encourage others to travel the world in peace
International Institute for Peace Through Tourism
HRH Princess Dana Firas Patron of
IIPT “Travel for Peace” Tour to Jordan with Opportunities to
Assist Syrian Refugees
IIPT is honored to announce that HRH Princess Dana Firas will be a Patron of the IIPT “Travel for Peace Tour” to Jordan 9-18 November 2017. HRH Princess Dana Firas is a Global advocate for cultural heritage preservation and President of the Board, Petra National Trust (PNT). HRH Princess Dana Firas will personally meet with members of the tour either in Amman or Petra.
Under the leadership of HRH Princess Dana Firas, PNT has expanded its work not only to include conservation and preservation projects but also Education, Outreach and Awareness (EOA) programs for youth in the six villages that surround the Petra Archaeological Park. PNT will be facilitating a special tour by its youth workshop members that will give a unique view of Petra.
Donald King, Ambassador at Large for the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), and his wife Lynne will be leading the special “Travel for Peace” tour to Jordan November 9-18, 2017. The Kings have been residents of Jordan and have extensive experience leading tours in Jordan. They also have recently been involved in several humanitarian efforts assisting Syrian refugees while developing relationships with local organizations that provide services to these refugees. They recently hosted a voluntary optometry team that provided vision screening and eye glasses at a special school for Syrian children.
Persons participating in the upcoming IIPT Peace Tour will have a chance to interact with Syrian refugee children, providing games, handicrafts and other gifts at the school. The dates of the tour have been set for November 9-18, to coincide with the close of World Travel Market so that persons attending WTM might fly directly from London to Amman.
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Collaborating with IIPT will be Airline Ambassadors International (AAI). AAI helps orphans and vulnerable children worldwide by leveraging connections with the airline industry towards humanitarian service. AAI will also be providing marketing support among its members. AAI’s Founder and President, Nancy Rivard, was the second recipient of the IIPT Ambassador for Peace Award at IIPT’s 1999 Global Conference in Glasgow. www.airlineamb.org.
AAI will be represented by Sandy Dhuyvetter, a member of the AAI Board of Directors who will manage AAI’s commitment to IIPT. Sandy is also a trainer on Human Trafficking Awareness in the travel industry and an award winning creator, executive producer and host of TravelTalk Radio and Travel Talk Media.
 Nancy Rivard |
 Sandy Dhuyvetter |
Partnering with IIPT in organizing the tour is Near Eastern Tours, an IIPTCoalition Partner. Near Eastern Tours will provide in-country services for the tour.
Also collaborating with IIPT will be Angels of Hope who will provide “Tee” Shirts and other gifts for school children. www.theangelworkshop.com
Jordan is one of the world’s spectacular destinations and home to some of the world’s friendliest and most hospitable people. The itinerary will provide the opportunity to see this fascinating land, meet its people and experience its welcoming spirit. The tour itinerary will include Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Mt. Nebo, Azraq Wetlands, Shumari Reserve, the Dead Sea and other sites.
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Participants in this special tour will have the opportunity to assist some of the Syrian refugees who have fled the war in their homeland. We will visit refugee families and provide food parcels, hygiene packets and medical supplies to some of the neediest families. Participation in this tour will make a difference in the lives of a few Syrian families and participants will gain an appreciation for one of the most interesting countries in the world.
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Interested persons and Travel agents are invited to request more information. Please send an email request to: travelking47
Cassie Sets Guinness World Record
Cassie De Pecol’s dream growing up in rural Connecticut was to visit every country in the world. This past month – traveling as an IIPT Ambassador for Peace – Cassie accomplished that dream and in the process set a new Guinness world record visiting 196 sovereign nations in 18 months and 26 days – half the time of the previous world record – and becoming the first woman, and youngest person to visit all 196 sovereign nations.
Cassie’s journey was launched at the IIPT World Symposium in South Africa honoring the legacies of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Cassie spoke at the Opening Day luncheon and later during the Symposium had the opportunity to meet – and be inspired by Naomi King, Martin Luther King Jr’s sister-in-law; and Nandi Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter.
“It was meeting both Naomi King and Nandi Mandela that convinced me I wanted to commit my life towards furthering peace, non-judgement, and unity throughout our world, starting with Expedition196."
Skal International and its President, Nigel Pilkington played a key role in arranging meetings with Mayors and other dignitaries during her travels, and assisting to arrange speaking engagements with civic organizations such as Rotary and to give motivational talks to students of tourism and hospitality at more than 40 universities.
Over the course of her trip, Cassie met with mayors and ministers of tourism, presenting them with the IIPT’s "Declaration of Peace."
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The ten countries that stood out for Cassie were: Mongolia, Bhutan, Maldives, Vanuatu, Pakistan, Oman, Tunisia, Costa Rica, and the USA
“The one thing that became strikingly apparent to me after having visited all countries is that despite our differences; religion, cultural background, traditions, ethnicities, gender, income and aspirations, we all have the same basic needs and find happiness in the simplest of things. I’ve realized that the core of humanity is sameness, and if we could push past all differences, jealousies and preconceptions, we would be able to live in a much more unified and ultimately, peaceful world.”
Cassie’s future plans include a book, documentary, and The Expedition 196 Entrepreneur Seminar, designed to motivate and provide insights to individuals on how to pursue their own passion project or Expedition involving travel and working towards a cause.
Cassie can be followed on Facebook,Instagram and at https://expedition196.com/
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, cooperation among nations, an improved quality of environment, cultural enhancement and the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction, reconciliation and healing wounds of conflicts; 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
Email: ljd
