Ministry of tourism, environment and natural resources,
Republic of Zambia

Keynote speech to be delivered by the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Kabinga J. Pande, MP, during the 3rd Global Summit on Peace through Tourism at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, Thailand on Monday 2 October 2005.

I feel greatly honored to be invited to deliver a keynote speech at this important 3rd global summit on peace through tourism whose theme is: “one earth, one family: travel and tourism - serving a higher purpose”.
The theme of this summit is not only timely but also of great significance to our world today. Further, this theme is in line with the united nation’s decade of peace and non-violence for the children of the world and the millennium development goals. It is indeed timely for all of us to take a global view at the key issues of our
time and therefore agree to play our roles, individually and severally in making our world a safer and peaceful place to live especially for the children.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in February 2005, more than 370 delegates from 24 countries, came together for the 3rd IIPT African conference on peace through tourism at the hotel intercontinental in Lusaka, Zambia in support of the united nations decade of peace and non-violence for the children of the world, the millennium development goals, the African union and new partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD).
Mr. Chairman, at this conference, delegates acknowledged and reiterated the vision of Africa’s founding fathers, who in their wisdom, joined hands to mobilize their people to rise against colonialism and apartheid so that succeeding generations of Africa’s respective countries could live in freedom, dignity, and harmony. The
delegates made a passionate commitment to honor the legacy of Africa’s founding fathers and to spread its values world over by working together to build an Africa characterized by commitment. This commitment to include democracy, the empowerment of its people and communities in accordance with the rights and liberties
enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights. They further, recognized that the leaders and people of Africa were increasingly committed to a new vision of peace, stability, non-violence, good governance, and sustainable human, social, cultural and economic development for all its people through the African union,
new partnership for African development (NEPAD), and respective member states.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, it is important at this juncture to state that for over 40 years, Zambia still stands as a role model of a peaceful nation and also a broker of peace. An attribute which is attained by a nation in which people live in harmony with each other and have respect for the values and well being of
human kind. Along these lines, Zambia recognizes that a peaceful and friendly people is the greatest tourism asset any country in the world can possess. It is my considered view that we should embrace the spirit of oneness as our global value. This is because tourism should not be about a fulfilled leisure experience only
but also about people of different backgrounds, races and culture meeting, interacting and sharing the very essence of life, “love and peace” and this in my view is “serving a higher purpose”.

The theme of this summit, ladies and gentlemen, implores us all to give a deeper reflection of tourism’s contribution to the attainment of global peace, the millennium development goals and also presents the
sector as a factor of development and furtherance of the cause for the improvement of the desperate human
condition across the world, particularly for the less developed countries. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
for most countries and Africa in particular, tourism constitutes one of the only few viable development options, and is often the principal source of foreign exchange earnings and an effective tool for poverty reduction. Therefore, tourism remains one of the few sectors of the African economies that offer wider options as the best entry point for socio-economic development and realization of the Millennium development goals. As such, Mr.
Chairman, any efforts that are aimed at increasing tourist arrivals and spending in African destinations, has a direct positive impact on the wellbeing of the African people.

I wish therefore to call upon world leaders, influential statesmen and women, governments, the tourism private sector players and everyone present here to be pragmatic and resolve to give tourism a right place in the global politics and economics not only as a vehicle for socioeconomic development and poverty reduction but also as a tool for creating peace and harmony among the peoples of this world.

Mr. Chairman, I am persuaded to believe that if carefully prioritized tourism could play a significant role in the realization of the millennium development goals because tourism has many advantages in terms of its:
a) high potential for linkages with other sectors
b) high labor intensiveness and gender sensitiveness (that is, employs high proportions of women as men)
c) potential as a non-traditional export sector in poor economies with few other competitive exports
d) utilization of natural and cultural assets that many poor people have around them.

Mr. Chairman, in order to enhance the role of this world’s largest industry in advancing the united nations millennium development goals and for the full potential of tourism to be transformed into real and tangible benefits for all, especially the marginalized of our global society, a practical commitment by all key players and a pro-poor paradigm shift’ in the business outlook of the tourism industry need to be precipitated. This will
necessitate putting poverty objectives first in the tourism development agenda both at local and global levels.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, let me underscore the fact that peace is one of the preconditions for progress and development of any nation. According to tourism scholars and I share their view, peace presents the first step on the road to development, progress, social order and fulfillment. We need peace if we wish to
meet the major challenges that threaten our survival such as war, terrorism, poverty, civil strife, disease, severe
climatic changes etc.

Finally Mr. chairman I leave a challenge - in the centuries past, it is only those who selflessly sacrificed
and did something to change the world for the better that have left’ indelible, lasting and good memories in the world’s posterity. Now is the time for all of us to stand and make a difference by serving a higher purpose and that is, lobbying for the rightful place for tourism in the global politics and economics if this world’s largest industry is to make a significant contribution to the realization of the UN millennium development goals.
I thank you all.