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(AMMAN, JORDAN) Nov 8, 2000, ---Ministers of Tourism and travel industry
leaders from around the world gathered, in Amman, Jordan to launch
tourism as a "Global Peace Industry." The occasion is the opening of the
first Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism to be held under the Royal
Patronage of H.M. King Abdullah II. Organized by the International
Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) and sponsored by American
Express, the Summit pays tribute to H.M. King Hussein's legacy of peace.
Leaders in attendance at this momentous event represent some 30
countries from China to Switzerland, Ghana, Cambodia, Croatia and U.S.
The Summit, with additional delegates bringing the number of countries
represented to 60, will serve as a demonstration of support by the
world's largest industry for a continuation of the peace process in the
Middle East and other regions of the world. Focus of the Summit will be:
"Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" in support of the UN
International Year for the Culture of Peace.
Featured Plenary speakers on Wednesday, November 9 and Thursday,
November 10, will include Harvey Golub, Chairman and CEO, American
Express; Mr. Nelson Mandela former President, Republic of South Africa
and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Hon. Mary Robinson, Chairman, UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights;
His Serene Highness Crown Prince Albert of Monaco;
Jean Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel & Tourism Council;
Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization; M.P.
Bezbaruah, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Secretary,
Ministry of Tourism, India; Dr. Maritta-Koch-Weser, Director General,
World Conservation Union; Hon. Michael Afedi Gizo, President, Africa
Travel Association and Minister of Tourism, Ghana; Hon. Anwarul Karim
Chowdhury, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the
United Nations; Jean Louis Sarbib, Vice President World Bank Middle East
and North Africa Region. H.E. Akel Biltaji, Minister of Tourism and
Antiquities, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is Master of Ceremonies; James
M. Li, Executive Vice President, American Express and Chairman, MEMTTA
Americas, Plenary Moderator; Louis J. D'Amore, Founder and President,
IIPT, Summit Chair; and Dr. Noel Brown, President, Friends of the United
Nations, Summit Secretary General. Pre- Summit Activities
Pre-Summit activities included a Ministers' Roundtable on the "Role of
Governments in Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism"; the
inaugural meeting of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace
through Tourism as well as the inaugural meetings of IIPT's four
international networks(Educators, Rural and Community, Spiritual and
Indigenous; and a Regional Educators meeting. "Open Space" will be provided for other groups wishing to
meet around common interests. Summit Highlights
The Summit began at 3:30 p.m. on November 8 with an Spiritual Gathering
at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ's baptism visited by Pope
John Paul ll during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Dead Sea
was the dramatic setting for the welcome reception the same evening,
sponsored by Zara Investments and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts at the
Movenpick's Dead Sea resort.
Opening ceremonies followed by the Plenary Sessions take place Thursday,
November 9 at the Grand Hyatt Amman. The opening day lunch, sponsored by
Air Harbour Technologies, is dedicated to the presentation of the first
King Hussein Tourism Awards, presented to the individual and to the
organization with outstanding achievement in contribution to the vision
of "Tourism as a Global Peace Industry." In the evening, a Reception and
Gala Banquet, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will showcase
"Jordan, The Cradle of Civilization."
Concurrent Sessions on Thursday and Friday, will include “Bridging the
Have and Have Not Regions of the World,”
“Healing the Wounds of Conflict,” “Educating for a Culture of Peace
through Tourism” and “Marketing and Development of Jordan and the
Region.” A media forum luncheon focusing on "The Role of the Media in
promoting a Culture of Peace," will feature prominent international
print and broadcast journalists. Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, NBC
Today Show and the Travel Channel, panel moderator, will be joined by
Richard Bangs, Editor-at-Large, Expedia; Keith Bellows, Editor in Chief,
National Geographic Traveler, Rami Khouri, former Editor-in-Chief, The
Jordan Times. Sir Ian Prosser, Chairman, Bass Plc, as luncheon sponsor
will open the forum.
The Closing Plenary on Friday will feature an overview of Summit
highlights and outcomes, and the launching of "Millennium Projects" by
members of the IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through
Tourism.
Dedication of Global Peace Parks
Project
At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the New
Millennium, a Global Peace Parks Project will be launched from Bethany
Beyond the Jordan with the dedication of an international peace park.
Summit sponsors, in addition to Title Sponsor, American Express, include
Gold Sponsor, Air Harbour Technologies; Silver Sponsors, Archaeology
Magazine, Bass Hotels & Resorts, International Traders, Movenpick Hotels
& Resorts, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Zara Investments; Bronze Sponsors,
ASTA Agency Management, b-there.com, Leisure Travel News, Marriott
Hotels and Resorts, Travel Counselor and Travel World News.
The IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and
facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international
understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment,
preservation of heritage, and a peaceful, sustainable world.
Royal Jordanian Airlines is the official air carrier for the Summit;
Austrian Airlines is a cooperating carrier. Grand Hyatt Amman is the
Summit Headquarter Hotel; other Summit Hotels include Amman Marriott
Hotel, Radisson SAS Hotel Amman, and Amman Inter-Continental Hotel.
International Traders, Amman, is providing Conference Management
services.
International Institute for Peace Through Tourism |
