WATCH: The International Institute for Peace through Tourism family meeting

Now in its 35th year, the International Institute for Peace through Tourism held a family meeting this past Friday.

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) this week held a family meeting to discuss the latest developments since its last family meeting in February.

Generally closed to the public, these meetings have, more recently, been made accessible to the public.

Hosted by Juergen Steinmetz, chairman of the World Tourism Network, and chaired by IIPT board chairman, Timothy Marshall, Dr Taleb Rifai, chairman of IIPT international advisory board was the guest of honour.

In his opening, Timothy noted the difficulty faced by the world over the past 18 months. On top of the pandemic, issues such as global warming, racism and the growing marginalisation of vulnerable groups have compounded our challenges.

“It is in this context that we are gathered here today. In these very challenging times, we are grateful to have the work of the institution of IIPT, which has been serving as a lighthouse, helping to illuminate the path towards global peace and environmental sustainability.”

Who is the IIPT?

The IIPT was established in 1986, with the aim of travel and tourism becoming the world’s first global peace industry and it is their belief that every traveller is potentially an ambassador for peace.

The IIPT’s first global conference on Tourism: A Vital Force for Peace, was held in Vancouver in 1988. 800 delegates from 68 countries attended what IIPT calls “a transformative event”. It was here when the concept of ‘sustainable tourism’ as well as a paradigm for tourism’s ‘higher purpose’ was first identified.

IIPT promotes “the key role of tourism in fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding; cooperation among nations; an improved quality of the environment; cultural enhancement and the preservation of heritage; poverty reduction; reconciliation and healing wounds of conflicts; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.”

To join the IIPT’s special interest group, click here.