STOWE, Vermont – The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is most proud to announce that an IIPT Breakfast will be featured at the UNWTO General Assembly being co-hosted by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe to be held in Livingstone and Victoria Falls Towns from August 24-29, 2013, reports eTN United States.
In making the announcement, IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore, stated: “We are most honored to have this opportunity for a presence at the UNWTO General Assembly during our 25th anniversary year and to express our gratitude to the World Tourism Organization for its support of our activities during this entire 25-year period beginning with the First IIPT Global Conference, Vancouver 1988. We are also most grateful to Dr. Patrick Kalifungwa, Vice Chancellor of LIUTEBM University (Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management) for the gracious hosting of the breakfast by LIUTEBM.”
IIPT has launched a series of 25th Anniversary Legacy projects to commemorate the year beginning with the forming of an IIPT Consortium of Collaborating Universities (IIPT-CCU) with more than 20 participating universities from regions throughout the world including Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, and South Pacific.
The second legacy initiative is “Peace Tours Morocco” – a product developed by IIPT Partner Munditinera – Cultural Bridges International and being distributed throughout the world in collaboration with Skal International. A portion of all revenues from the tours will be donated to the International Red Cross, Geneva, in support of their programs for victims of armed conflict.
This past month, a third legacy project was announced – the IIPT/Skal Peace Towns initiative inviting towns and villages throughout the world to become members in a collective commitment to building a culture of peace in their respective communities.
Each IIPT/Skal Peace Town or Village will support a positive and dynamic concept of peace that goes beyond the traditional passive notion of peace as simply the absence of conflict. A Peace Town or Village will, therefore, be actively committed to promoting values of tolerance, non-violence, gender equality, human rights, youth empowerment, environmental awareness, and sustainable human, social and economic development. Collaboration between and among IIPT/Skal Peace Towns and Villages will be encouraged as well as information sharing regarding Peace Town/Village initiatives.
We have set a goal of 300 IIPT/Skal Peace Towns for the first year of the program with the first 50 to be dedicated during the UNWTO General Assembly. Towns and Villages anywhere in the world are invited to become an IIPT/Skal Peace Town or Village by expressing their interest in an email to: ljd@iipt.org .
Two additional 25th anniversary legacy projects will be announced during the IIPT Breakfast. IIPT looks forward to welcoming participants to Zambia and Zimbabwe.
IIPT is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).
