INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM (IIPT)

Background

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) was founded in 1986, the UN International Year of Peace, with a vision of “Tourism as a Global Industry”; an industry which supports and promotes the belief that every traveller is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace”- an Ambassador for Peace within the global family and an Ambassador for Peace with nature.

That vision is grounded in the 1980 Manila Declaration of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) which challenged the industry with a concept of tourism that emphasizes the social, cultural, economic, educational and political values of tourism. The Declaration emphasizes that the very existence of tourism depends on peace, and that beyond its economic significance, tourism is potentially the most important vehicle for promoting understanding, trust, and goodwill among people in the world.

The vision lives, and its message has been given fuller meaning through a series of conferences and initiatives over the past 15 years which includes the most recent 1st Caribbean Rural & Community-based Tourism Training Workshop in Jamaica, August 2001. And now, the world’s largest industry is prepared to move forward in a major way towards the realization of this vision as we embark on a new century and millennium. World leaders and industry statesmen came together in Jordan in November 2000 to honour a Man of Peace, His Majesty King Hussein, and to “Build a Culture of Peace through Tourism” in support of the UN International Year for the Culture of Peace.

The IIPT has formed a “Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism” which includes the Sustainable Communities Foundation through Tourism (SCF) based in Mandeville Jamaica. Each founding partner is committed to a “Millennium Project” which contributes to the vision of “Tourism as a Global Peace Industry” and the aim of “Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism.” SCF has selected the following projects for peace for the Caribbean region:
• Training in Communities for Peace – focusing on basic hospitality skills including self-development, entrepreneurship, etiquette, being an effective leader and “ambassador” for your community and country. This is being managed by the Countrystyle Institute for Sustainable Tourism operated by the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, Jamaica.
• Countrystyle Tourism Village Programme – where citizens are encouraged to work together in the interest of improving their quality of life through community tourism. This includes assistance with developing a business plan for the entire village with the citizens, developing their talents and skills, establishing Conflict Resolution Centre and Information centre for the community and visitors. USAID has embraced this approach in their upcoming Community Tourism & Agriculture project. SCF is presently spearheading this programme in association with the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network.

• Project Development Fund – facilitating low-interest and grant funding for community projects with moratorium periods. The outline of the Fund has been developed by Countrystyle Director & Consultant, Mr. David Logan.

• SCF Community Tourism Network – providing marketing and resource information support to communities – a newsletter through the Positive Tourism Network and a website is presently being developed through the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network to include the community experience tours for the villages that have been sensitised in community tourism by SCF in association with Countrystyle

IIPT CREDO OF THE PEACEFUL TRAVELLER
Grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience the world and because peace begins with the individual, I affirm my personal responsibility and commitment to:

• Journey with an open mind and gentle heart

• Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter

• Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains all life

• Appreciate all cultures I discover

• Respect and thank my host for their welcome

• Offer my hand in friendship to everyone I meet

• Support travel services that share these views and act upon them and

• By my spirit, words and actions, encourage others to travel the world in peace
‘ “TRAVEL PROMOTES PEACE”
If you are interested in becoming a member of the IIPT Caribbean Chapter and the Sustainable Communities Foundation (SCF), please contact:

Diana McIntyre-Pike
President IIPT Caribbean Chapter
Tel: (876)962-7758/488-7207
Fax: (876)962-1461
Email: Countrystyle@mail.infochan.com or countrystyletourism@yahoo.com