Tourism - Agent for Peace?

Description
The Australia Chapter of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism held its 3rd Australian Conference on Saturday, 15 July 2006 at the Avillion Hotel Sydney.  The Conference, with its theme Tourism – Agent for Peace?, followed two earlier Australian conferences, Tourism – Passport to Peace in March 2003 and Travel Promotes Peace – Meeting the Challenge in September 2004.

IIPT Australia Chapter President, Daphne Lowe Kelley issued a challenge to the Australian travel and tourism industry to be a world leader in “Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism” and through this 3rd Australian Conference, to develop the way forward in achieving this goal.

Post Conference Report
For a summary of the 3rd Australian Conference, please click here to read a Report written by Ian Kelly, Coordinator of the IIPT International Educators Network and Professor at the University of South Australia.

Click here to view Photos of the Third Australian Conference.

Discussion:
This conference examined of the role of tourism as an agent for peace. Can travel companies, tourism organizations and those who work in the industry serve a higher purpose and think and act beyond the commercial aspects of their business?   Are travelers and tourists or the host communities aware of the important role they can play in creating a more equitable and peaceful world? 

Based on the conference theme, 'Tourism – Agent for Peace?' discussion revolved around an examination of four identified  ‘Agents for Peace.’  The four ‘Agents for Peace’ to be examined are Travel industry principals and agents, Industry organizations and government bodies, Tourists and travelers and Host communities.

Speakers:
Industry leaders and managers along with academics made up the speakers line up for the Australia Chapter of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism’s third Australian Conference, Saturday, 15 July 2006, at the Avillion Hotel Sydney. 

• IIPT’s Founder and President, US-based Louis D’Amore, lead the discussion, with AFTA CEO, Mike Hatton, as the keynote speaker.  
   

• Speakers included industry representatives: Jaquie Preketes, Touchdown Tours; Georgina Pickers, travel agent; Dr David Beirman; Richard Cunningham, World Expeditions; Matt McDonell, Wagga Wagga City Council and Trevor Lake, Discover Asia; plus academics: Mia Nahm, Kenvale College of Tourism and Hospitality Management; Dr Deborah Edwards, UTS Sydney; Garth Lean, PhD candidate UWS and  Ian Kelly, University of South Australia.
   

• Dr. Lynda Blanchard, coordinator of the University of Sydney’s graduate ‘Peace Through Tourism’ Winter School program chaired an interactive session with a panel of students from this year’s course. This unit of study was offered for the first time last year – all places for this year’s July 13-19 course have already been filled. 
   

• Dr. Larry Dwyer, Qantas Professor of Travel and Tourism Economics, School of Economics University of NSW, chaired the last session “Where to from Here?”

Program:
Click here for the complete Australia 2006 Conference Program.

Sponsors:
Conference sponsors were Qantas Airlines, Avillion Hotel Sydney, Australian Pinnacle Tours, Touchdown Tours and Intrepid Travel.  The conference was endorsed by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

Media Releases:
Third Australian International Peace through Tourism Conference delegates vow to spread the word, July 17, 2006

Peace through Tourism Founder visits Sidney, July 10, 2006

Speakers for Peace through Tourism, June 29, 2006

For More Information, Contact:
Daphne Lowe Kelley, President, IIPT (Australia) Inc
GPO Box 670, Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
Phone/Fax (61 2) 9719-3080  Email lowekelley@bigpond.com

Click here for more information on the Australian Chapter of IIPT

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