July
2007 Issue



4th IIPT African Conference Achieves Major Outcomes

Our June newsletter reported that the 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism was the best IIPT African Conference to date. We continue now with the second half of our report on the 4th IIPT African Conference:

The Conference, organized under the patronage of His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and hosted by the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, brought together more than 400 delegates from 33 countries sharing their experiences, ideas, wisdom and commitments toward the Conference theme of:
                            “Building Strategic Alliances for Sustainable Tourism Development,
                                      Peace, and Reconciliation on the African Continent.”

The 4th IIPT African Conference was our “best African Conference to date” because of the important outcomes achieved – marking a significant shift for IIPT from a “Declaratory Phase” of Conferences and Summits – to an “Action and Implementation Phase.”


His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni



Mayor Jack Ellis
Vice-President World Conference of Mayors on Tourism & Economic Development


 


 

 

Most significant among the outcomes was the announcement by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in his Keynote Address that Uganda will adopt Tourism Legislation in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Uganda will be the first nation in the world to adopt this milestone legislation.

Other significant outcomes included:

  • Proclamation of May 20 to May 26 as “National Peace through Tourism Week” by Conference Patron, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni;
  • Launch of Uganda Martyr’s Trail as a legacy of the Conference;
  • Dedication of IIPT International Peace Park at Martyr’s Trail;
  • Announcement of Four Sister Cities;
  • Africa Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) to be launched in Uganda;
  • Plans to introduce the READ Global Library project in Uganda – the first READ Global project in Africa – in collaboration with Rotary International;
  • First IIPT Lifetime Acheivement Award presented to Mira Berman, Executive Director Emeritus, Africa Travel Association;
  • Launch of Graduate Level Peace through Tourism Program at WICE (World Leisure Center of Excellence) Wageningen University in partnership with IIPT;
  • Partnering of Makerere University with leading universities in Australia;
  • IIPT Scholarship Award announced to Inter-disciplinary team of students writing the best paper on “Tourism Contribution to the UN Millennium Development Goals;”
  • First Africa Media Exchange with participating journalists, editors and publishers from Africa, Europe and North America committed to enhancing the international image of Africa;
  • Training Workshops regarding Hotel Revenue Management, Destination Marketing, Community Tourism, and Guiding; and
  • Ministers Roundtables on Healing Wounds of Conflict through Tourism Culture and Sport; Enhancing the Contribution of Tourism to Poverty Reduction and the UN Millennium Development Goals; and the Africa Diaspora Heritage Trail.

   
IIPT President Louis D’Amore congratulates            Uganda Martyr's Trail Basilica,                 President D’Amore planting the first peace tree  
   President Museveni on introducing Tourism                 Namugongo – Uganda                            in the newly launched IIPT International Peace Park
Legislation and UN MDG. Looking on:                                                                                      at the site of the Martyr’s Trail.                         
         Dr. Noel Brown and Minister Serapio Rukundo                                                                                                                                                          

Back to Top


Focus of 4th IIPT African Conference on
UN MDG, Poverty Reduction, and Reconciliation

The focus of the 4th IIPT African Conference was on the role and potential of tourism to contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goals, Poverty Reduction and Socio-Economic Development, Reconciliation and Healing Wounds of Conflict, and Expanding Market opportunities for Africa.

As well, the Conference sought to develop communication strategies leading to a more balanced and positive image of Africa – its lands, its cultures and its peoples- in regions throughout the world. (Please see Media Exchange article below). Recommendations were made on stimulating development, creating employment, and generating local incomes through localized niche markets based on community tourism, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, agro-tourism and cultural tourism.

The most significant contributions would arise from supporting nature conservation and environmental protection and empowering local communities with capacity building in governance, cost benefit analysis, entrepreneurial skills and contract management.

While emphasis should be on mainstreaming sustainability in the entire sector including mass tourism, it was necessary to identify innovative ways of linking tourism to host communities through small and medium enterprises, provision of micro credits and re-branding the image of Africa.

Promotion of good governance and a favorable legal and regulatory environment was a key ingredient to sustainable tourism development and poverty reduction, especially taking advantage of the changing perception of international finance institutions like the World Bank, and the increasing technical expertise, skills development and access to markets.

Culture and sport can be harnessed to build in conjunction with sustainable tourism development, to build values of social inclusion, empower young people, promote the development of children, and contribute to health, education and socio-economic development.

The experience of South Africa through the Peace and Reconciliation commission serves as a point of reference for similar processes of Reconciliation and healing wounds of conflict elsewhere.

To be successful, there is a pre requisite for sincere reconciliation, community, state and/or nation building with assertion of legitimacy without exacting revenge. Providing a roadmap for constructive involvement of all people was a necessary condition to moving in the direction of post conflict harmony and common progress.

The Way Forward
There was consensus that the way forward for Africa is to establish tourism policy consistent with the MDG’s, and to undertake collective action for image change through public and private investment in tourism. This to be accompanied by enhancement of equity in benefits from tourism to local host communities, thereby reducing poverty and the incidence of conflict.

         
Hon. Mrs. Thandi F. Shongwe           H. E. Mr. Joseph Malwal Dong, Minister of        Hon. Ms. Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy
Minister of Tourism, Environment    Tourism and Wildlife, Sudan                           
 Minister of Environmental Affairs and
and Communications, Swaziland                                                                            
Tourism Republic of South Africa

   
H.E. Senator Akel Biltaji presents artist’s sculpture     Left to Right: Minister Dong, Sudan; H.E. Senator Akel Biltaji, Jordan;
of Petra, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World to     Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi, South Africa; Louis D'Amore, IIPT; and
IIPT President Louis D’Amore: special gift from           Minister Rukundo, Uganda.
H.M. King Abdullah II





Hon. Serapio Rukundo,
Minister of State



H.E. Senator Akel Biltaji
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan



Dr. Noel Brown
Chairman, IIPT International Advisory Board


S.E. Mme. Yvonne Mboissona, Ministre du Tourisme République Centrafricaine



Dr. Dawid de Villiers
former Deputy secretary UNWTO



Hon. Prof. Jumanne A. Maghembe
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Tanzania




Desta Mebratu, PhD., Regional Officer, UNEP Division of Technology, Industry & Economics (DTIE) Regional Office, Africa

Back to Top



First Ever Africa Media Exchange
Brings Together Prominent Journalists

The first ever Africa Media Exchange (A-MEx), organized in partnership with Counterpart International, and bringing together noted journalists from Africa, Europe, North America and the Caribbean, was a further innovation towards significant outcomes.

The aim of A-MEx was to develop communication strategies – actions - and commitments, leading to a more balanced and positive image of Africa – its lands, its cultures, and its peoples in regions throughout the world.

The Media Exchange was facilitated by Sandy Dhuyvetter, Travel Talk Media, and moderated by Mr. John Bigyemano, noted Uganda Media personality.

Featured speakers included: Thomas Steinmetz, Publisher, eTurbo News, Victor A. Banjo, Chief Human Resources & Services Officer, Virgin Nigeria Airways; Soni Irabor, Broadcast Journalist; Ibrahim Famakan Coulibaly, President West African Journalists Association (WAJA); Sally McKinney, Society of American Travel Writers; Karen Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Bradford Group; Peter Ssematimba, Managing Director Super FM; John Nagenda, Preseidential Press Advisor, William Pike, former managing Director NewVision and Director Capital FM.

A-MEx resulted in several concrete recommendations including proposals to “Brand” Africa with a well-conceived and coordinated media campaign. A successful campaign will require a process of stakeholder inclusiveness and “trust building” between members of the industry and the media. Also emphasized was the need to lobby governments and the private sector to fund such a campaign.

Other proposals included creation of an African Interactive Travel channel and open forum; exploitation of opportunities through utilization of the abundant ICT opportunities and the film industry; targeted media training on relevant themes; and use of media awards for qualitative and consistent reporting on sustainable tourism would motivate media personnel. It was noted that African media should contextualise progressive African nature & hospitality based campaigns.

As well, several proposals to promote peace through tourism were made.
Including the integration of the peace through tourism concept in tourism education programs.

Delegates suggested that the media needs to re-orient its focus from revenue generated through running tourism messages to the message of tourism itself.


Thomas Steinmetz

 


Minister Rukundo, Uganda

 


Sandy Dhuyvetter

 


Soni Irabor, Broadcast Journalist
and Dr. Omar Mouffakir,
CHN University, Netherlands


Karen Hoffman

 

Back to Top



Application of Peace through Tourism
Discussed throughout Concurrent Sessions

The concurrent session program of the 4th IIPT African Conference was designed to demonstrate how the concept of peace through tourism is applied to specific case study examples. Workshops and presentations were provided by a number of high profile speakers from across Africa, Europe, and the USA. The program provided four break-out periods, totaling eighteen different concurrent sessions.

Instructional workshops held included:

  • “Hotel Owners Workshop” by Juston Parker, President and CEO, Parker Hospitality Group, Inc.
  • “Destination Marketing” by Markly Wilson, Director of International Marketing, New York State Division of Tourism;
  • “African Diaspora Heritage Trail” by Dr. Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, President, Henderson Associates; and
  • “Developing Community Based Ecotourism for Peace and Sustainability” by Douglas Trent, Sustainable Community Development and Conservation Inc. and Mary Katherine Cope, Vice-President Africa, International Executive Service Corps


Juston Parker, President & CEO
Parker Hospitality Group
 


Markly Wilson, Int'l. Marketing Director
New York State Division of Tourism
 


Gaynelle Henderson, President
Henderson Travel
 


Douglas Trent, Community Ecotourism
Sustainable Community Development
and Conservation Inc.

Additional sessions were organized on the following topics:

  • Tourism Contribution to Poverty Reduction
  • Healing the Wounds of Conflict
  • Micro-Enterprise and SME Tourism Development
  • Enhancing Our Environment
  • Cultural and Heritage Tourism
  • Building Bridges of Tourism, Friendship and Collaboration
  • Volunteer and Philanthropic Tourism
  • Models of Sustainable Tourism
  • Community Based Tourism
  • Public-Private-NGO Partnerships and Alliances
  • Education and Training
  • Women’s Economic Empowerment
  • Advances in Tourism Research: Academic Perspectives
  • Sports for Peace and Development
Stimulating discussions pursued the theoretical application to practical examples being carried out in the field. Speakers described the nature of their projects and addressed key success factors as well as how obstacles encountered were overcome. Delegates were motivated to share their relevant experiences and ask important questions.

IIPT is grateful to the many speakers who contributed to our program and shared their fascinating case studies. Detailed information on presentations and speaker background is available from the conference website.


Nishit Charadva, Amy Sotherden,
Markly Wilson, and Blanca  Camargo
 


1st Row: Minister Rukundo, Uganda; Minister Dong, Sudan; nd Row: Gail Parsonage, Louis D'Amore, Daphne Lowe Kelley and Ian Kelly


Ian Kelly, Daphne Lowe Kelley, Amy Sotherden
and Markly Wilson
 

Back to Top



Educators Agree to Collaborate in
Development of Educational Materials

Educators at the Pre-Conference Educators Forum agreed to collaborate through the IIPT International Educational Network to further develop educational materials for use by industry, communities and institutions. Educators agreed that it was necessary to pursue research and education on the eradication, rather than the alleviation, of poverty, an objective which was taken on by Ian Kelly, Coordinator of the IIPT International Educators Network.

Other major outcomes of the Forum included agreement of IIPT to partner with Wageningen University (Netherlands) in a graduate “Peace through Tourism” program that has been developed by Professor, Jan te Kloeze; and a proposal for an IIPT European Conference to be hosted by CHN University (Netherlands) that was represented by Professor Omar Moufakkir.

Educators also noted the important role of the media in effectively communicating to policy makers on the topics of peace, security and sustainable tourism, and the key role of tour guides in communicating the ‘Peace through Tourism’ concept in all its dimensions.

The Educators Forum was organized by Ian Kelly, Coordinator, IIPT International Educators Network, Hussein Sosovele, University of Dar es Salaam and Coordinator, IIPT African Educators Network, Alex Nkabahona and Levi Twinohumangi, both of Makerere University.

The Forum covered a range of topics from theory to practice and from a broad global perspective to an African perspective. The key role of tourism in contributing to post-conflict Reconciliation was the topic of one session with emphasis given to African traditions, particularly the Rwandan practice of gacaca. The process of reintegrating former combatants of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) into the communities of Northern Uganda was also highlighted and the potential for ecotourism, with its dependence on cooperation for environmental protection, constitutes a tool for reconciliation.

Promoting Sustainability and addressing Poverty were other areas of focus during the Forum. Discussions included a model for integrated planning to optimize the socio-cultural impacts of tourism; combating poverty in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania; a comprehensive overview of South Africa’s Tourism Enterprise Program (TEP); and case studies regarding efforts to combat poverty in Kenya and Ghana.

Ian Kelly outlined the contribution of the International Educators Network in circulating information, providing access to resource materials and plans for expansion of these initiatives and for closer collaboration with the African Educators Network.

   
Educators Forum participants with Ian Kelly IIPT Network


 Participants in Educators Forum

Back to Top



More than 70 Youth Take Part in
IIPT Student/Youth Leadership Forum

More than 70 students and youth participated in the IIPT Student/Youth Leadership Forum that was held prior to the 4th IIPT African Conference.

Senator Wayne Caines, Bermuda Chief of Staff was a featured guest speaker at the Forum.
Other speakers/presenters included students and youth leaders addressing issues including Youth Leadership for the 21st Century, Capacity Building and Development, Role of Young People in the Travel and Tourism Industry, and the Effective Use of ICT to Ensure Global Outreach and Partnerships.

Participants in the forum reviewed the IIPT Youth Declaration adopted at the 3rd IIPT African Conference, Lusaka, Zambia (2005) and discussed ways of working together to reach out to more young people throughout Africa with a view towards collaborating in areas of Youth Leadership and Empowerment, and encouraging young people to travel as “Ambassadors for Peace.”

Outcomes of the Forum included a proposal for the involvement of Youth in the design and implementation of segments of African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) and plans for the development of an IIPT Youth Website where resources and materials related to Youth Empowerment & Leadership in Travel & Tourism Industry will be accessible.

The website will include an online social network where members of the IIPT International Student/Youth Leadership network can communicate with one another to exchange and share ideas.


Youth Forum delegates participate in breakout meeting


     Trip Sweney, Step Up Travel, presenting at Youth Forum

Back to Top


IIPT Scholarship Award Announced

IIPT has established a tradition of awarding a scholarship at each of its conferences and summits to the university student writing the best paper on “Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism” – or on the particular theme of the conference.

Recognizing that we are living in an increasingly complex world requiring inter-disciplinary approaches to both understanding issues – and finding solutions to them, this year’s US$ 1,000 scholarship was presented to the inter-disciplinary team of students writing the best paper on “The Potential of Tourism to Contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goals.”

Thanks to the efforts of IIPT Student Network Coordinator, Nishit Charadva; IIPT Education Network Coordinator, Ian Kelly together with , Hussein Sosovele, University of Dar es Salaam, Coordinator, IIPT African Educators Network; and Alex Nkabahona and Levi Twinohumangi, both of Makerere University – who also served as judges for the competition, this year’s submissions for an African Conference were the best to date – both quantitatively and qualitatively.

IIPT was most proud to present the scholarship award to Deodatus Mtaki, Atililio Mganwa and Amina Chavula of Tumaini University, Iringa, Tanzania. The title of their winning paper was: "The Role of Tourism in Eradication of Poverty and Hunger: A Strategic Movement towards Achieving UN Millennium Development Goals".


Nishit Chadavra IIPT Student Coordinator and Amina Chavula, Deodatus Mtaki and Atililio Mganwa at the moment they received their prize

Back to Top


Post IIPT Conference Activity Engaging
Youth in Volunteer Tourism

Following a successful Student/Youth Leadership Forum, and participation in the
4th IIPT African Conference, 25 youth delegates from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Colombia, and the United States participated in a post-Conference volunteer project in Jinja, Uganda. The purpose of the project was to engage our youth in a first hand experience with a spirit of “giving back” and promoting volunteer & philanthropic tourism by assisting the welcoming community we visited and learned from. 

IIPT youth delegates assisted the Rotary Club of Jinja and the Stroke Prevention Society of Uganda with a day long Stroke Prevention and Awareness Camp held on Saturday, May 26th at the public Jinja Regional Hospital.  There were over 400 community members who attended the free clinic and learned about their risk for stroke. 

Dr. Catherine, who coordinated the event with Peace Kyarisima, Amy Sotherden, and Nishit Charadva, put our many IIPT youth delegates to work alongside doctors and hospital staff.  Tasks included: talking about nutrition and how to eat a proper diet, helping with registration, measuring weight and height, and cleaning a part of the women’s ward. The doctors performed in-depth diagnosis on the patients and referred those who needed it for further medical treatment.

With the help of friends and well wishers, the IIPT Youth Network also donated 208,000Ugandan Shillings (USD 130) towards the health camp.  Youth delegates described their experience as opening their hearts and minds to becoming more involved in other volunteer opportunities available in their own communities and when traveling.


IIPT delegation presenting contribution to Stroke Prevention
and Awareness Camp


Youth delegates volunteering to help prevent stroke
 



Back to Top

A Note of Thanks and Appreciation to our
Conference Partners and Sponsors

IIPT would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to all who contributed to the success of the 4th IIPT African Conference – and particularly to:

Conference Patron His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni;

Our gracious and generous host, the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, particularly Minister Serapio Rukundo, members of the Uganda National Organizing Committee, and the friendly people of Uganda.

The Kampala Serena Hotel, for their excellent service and hospitality;

Our Partners: The UN World Tourism Organization, United Nations Environment Program, Africa Travel Association, and Counterpart International;

Our Sponsors: Bermuda Department of Tourism; Zambia Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, and the Jordan Tourism Board

Our Media Partners: eTurbo News, Travel Talk Media; Travel Agent Media Group, Africa Travel Magazine, Travel World News, Travel Weekly and
Eco-Club.

IIPT would also like to express its appreciation to the many organizations and volunteers who contributed to the success of the conference – and of course our many speakers who contributed their time, wisdom, ideas and experiences – and the more than 400 delegates who participated enthusiastically and tirelessly – and also contributed their insights, ideas, experience and wisdom.
Back to Top
4th IIPT African Conference
Sponsors

Bermuda Department of Tourism

Ministry of Tourism
Republic of Zambia

Jordan Tourism Board
Partners
                 
Media Partners

 

 

 

Back to Top


 Show Your Support with One Earth One Family
IIPT Plaques and Gift Cards

 

Created exclusively for IIPT, both items display the IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler and Art Piece by R. Padre Johnson. 
The Credo of the Peaceful Traveler puts forth an ethical travel philosophy for travelers to abide by. The IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler was the inspiration of a very special person at the IIPT First Global Conference: Tourism - A Vital Force for Peace, Vancouver 1988. We have respected the author's request to remain annonymous. The IIPT Credo has since spread across the travel and tourism industry worldwide.


The One Earth One Family art piece
by R. Padre Johnson provides a view of our incredible earth from outer space, surrounded by the open faces of 25 children and adults from different cultures. Each portrait represents an important visual statement about the unique and interesting facial difference in each individual, the culture and ethnicity each represents, and the limitless threads of common humanity that draws all citizens of our planet more closely together as one inter-dependent family.

These items will remind all who see or receive them of what a privilege it is to travel freely throughout the world and the opportunity they have as they travel to be ambassadors of international understanding, good will and peace. These items will be admired and appreciated by everyone who sees them in your office, place of business or home.

Costs are $200 (US) plus shipping for an Acrylic Plaque, and $15 (US) plus shipping for a Gift Card pack of 10 Cards and Envelopes.  To order online or by fax/mail, please visit our website.


About IIPT

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 and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty reduction; 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) 253-2658
Fax: (802) 253-2645
Email: info@iipt.org

                                                                   Back to Top | Back to Newsletters

eTurboNews is proud to be the sponsor for this IIPT Newsletter
Advertising Submit Articles Circulation Contact Partners Team

International Institute for Peace Through Tourism
685 Cottage Club Road, Unit 13, Stowe, VT 05672
Tel: +1 802 253 2658 • Fax: +1 802 253 2645
Email: info@iipt.org