Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism

ROGER MOORE TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER  AT GENEVA SUMMIT

The Second Global Summit on Peace through Tourism will feature Roger Moore, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, as a Keynote Speaker.  The Summit is being held at the International Conference Center, Geneva (CICG), February 5-8, 2003.  Honoring the legacy of U.N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold as a Man of Peace, the Summit is being organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism in partnership with the World Travel & Tourism Council. 

Roger Moore stepped into the shoes of James Bond 007 for a blockbusting seven adventures - making his one of the most recognizable faces in the world.  He has enjoyed an amazingly successful and varied career in both television series and feature films.

As Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, for more than ten years, his contribution has been extensive and ranges from increasing awareness about children's rights and visiting numerous projects around the world, to raising funds for the organization's work. On 20 November 2001 he helped to launch a new alliance between world football governing body, FIFA and UNICEF. The partnership hopes to reach even more of the world's children through football (soccer), to promote and protect the right of all children to healthy recreation and quality primary education, and to encourage every adult to take action to build a world fit for children.

Children play football before launch of the FIFA - UNICEF Alliance For children at the United Nations, N.Y.

The FIFA -UNICEF Football initiative ties in directly with one of the Summit's main themes - "The Role of Sport for Peace and Development", and as well, the Summit's support for the U.N. Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

 Moore speaks first-hand of the problems children face around the world. "My curiosity got the better of  me after Audrey Hepburn introduced me to UNICEF," explains Moore. "I wanted to find out more than just the facts and figures, and the minute I saw what was left of (suffering] children and what was left of their bodies in many instances, I knew I had to work for  children for as long as I was able."

Other Keynote Speakers

Other confirmed Keynote Speakers include: Hon. Jennifer Smith, Premier of Bermuda; Amb. Anwarul Chowdhury, U.N. Under Secretary General for Least Developed Countries: Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel and Tourism Council;  Richard North, CEO, Six Continents Hotels; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization; Anastasia Mann, Chairman, Corniche Travel; Hon. Richard Gordon, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association; Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, President, Africa Travel Association; H.E. Dr.Bassem Awadallah, Minister of Planning, Jordan (confirmed) in a co-presentation with H.E. Roni Malo, Israel (waiting for confirmation) on the historic Red Sea - Dead Sea Project announced at the recent World Summit in Johannesburg.

Themes

The aim of the Summit is to continue "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" and to harness the world's largest industry, Travel and Tourism, as a leading force for Poverty Reduction.   Within this context - themes of the Summit are: Strategies for Tourism Related Micro-Enterprise and SME Development in Least Developed Countries; Development and Marketing of Destinations Emerging from Conflict; Youth Travel for Peace and International Understanding; The Role of Sport in Peace and Development; Educating for a Culture of Peace through Tourism; Linkages of Tourism, the Arts, Culture, and Heritage in Building a Culture of Peace; Tourism, Environment, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development; Building Community through Community Tourism; Accessible Travel for All; and the Role of the Media in Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism".

Summit Outcomes will include:

• 21st Century Agenda for Peace through Tourism"
• A beginning government - industry - donor - NGO collaborative strategy for the role of tourism in poverty reduction
• Youth Travel initiatives in partnership with International Youth Hostels and International Federation of Youth Travel Organizations
• Educational Initiatives - in collaboration with leading Travel & Tourism Educators
• Sport Initiatives for Peace and Development in collaboration with the U.N. Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace
• Pilot projects for poverty reduction in Least Developed Countries  in partnership with UNIVERSITAS - a recent initiative of the International Labor Organization
• Data Base of Tourism Development Projects in Developing Countries  in partnership with George Washington University - followed by an assessment of selected projects to arrive at Guidelines for future projects and examples of Best Practice
• Continued unfolding of the IIPT Global Peace Parks Projects launched from Bethany Beyond the Jordan on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 2000 as the closing event of our First Global Summit in Amman.

Media

It is our intention to maximize to the extent possible - a global awareness of the vital contribution the world's largest industry, Travel & Tourism, can make in "Building a Culture of Peace" in support of the U.N. Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the world - and in poverty reduction.   

Press briefings are planned with the U.N. Press Corps in Geneva as well as the Geneva Press Club.  We are also anticipating a significant number of journalists who will take part in the Conference itself.  (Please see below to apply for media credentials).

A featured Concurrent Session will be on  "The Role of the Media in Promoting a Culture of Peace through Tourism"  More than 100 media representatives covered the First Global Summit including a broad range of Arab media (e.g. Al Jazeera News Channel), NBC, BBC, Reuters TV, Associated Press, New York Times, Radio Canada, and Radio France International.

 Geneva Diplomatic Community

We will seek to maximize awareness of the potential for "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism" among the 180 Ambassadors of the Diplomatic Community of Geneva.

 Official Airline, Hotel, PCO and Sponsors of the Summit

The official airline for the Summit is Swiss International Airline.  The Hotel Inter-Continental Hotel, Geneva, is the official hotel.  Conventus is the Conference Management company and Secretariat.

 Major sponsors of the Summit are Six Continents Hotels, Bermuda Department of Tourism, Aqaba Regional Economic Zone Authority, Reed Travel Exhibitions, and Moevenpick Hotels.  Organizations interested in supporting the Summit in a sponsorship role are invited to contact Louis D'Amore, Email: Summit@iipt.org; tel: +1-802 253-8671; Fax:+1-802  253-2645  

REGISTRATION

Significant savings are available by registering by December 20. 

To register directly  on-line: www.iipt2003.ch

IIPT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK TO BE LAUNCHED AT SUMMIT
Recognizing the creative and dynamic contribution that the growing number of young professionals in the industry can make in contributing to a "Culture of Peace through Tourism, the occasion of the Geneva Summit will be used to launch an IIPT Young Professionals Network ( IIPT - YPN).  This will provide an opportunity for future leaders of the industry to form collegial bonds of friendship in collaborative efforts aimed at conceiving and implementing bold initiatives that contribute to the vision of Tourism as a Global Peace Industry".  The founding meeting (Wednesday, February 5 - first day of the Summit) is open to all recent college/university graduates and young professionals from the diverse sectors of the industry and related sectors.  Participants in the meeting will  have the opportunity to discuss and shape the goals, objectives and action agenda that will give initial direction to the network.            

For more information, please contact, IIPT - YPN Coordinator Redgie Blanco at uni_iipt@hotmail.com 

OTHER FORA AND MEETINGS OPENING DAY - WED. FEB 5

International Student Forum - for more information, Eddie Bergman: ejb228@nyu.edu 

Educators Forum - Please contact, Dr. Dan McDonald: Dan.mcdonald@uni.edu   

Spirituality in Tourism Forum: Please contact: Gail Lash: ursainternational@hotmail.com  

Rural and Community Tourism Forum: Please contact:

            Diana McIntyre Pike: countrystyle@mail.infochan.com or

            Prof. Sam Lankford: Sam.Lankford@uni.edu  

IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism

For Coalition members - and senior representatives of organizations wishing to become members.

Contact: Louis D'Amore: Summit@iipt.org            

International Organizations wishing to have their Executive Committee or Board of Directors Meetings in connection with the Summit are invited to contact Louis D'Amore to make arrangements for a Meeting Room: Summit@iipt.org

About IIPT

The International Institute For Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which 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.

 About WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global business leaders forum. Members are chief executives from all sectors of the industry. The mission of the Council is to raise awareness of the industry's importance and to work with governments to create and implement policies that can unlock the industry's potential to generate economic growth and create jobs.

For more information on The Second Global Summit: