First IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism

Hon. Valli Moosa, South Africa Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism to open first IIPT African Peace through
Tourism Conference

March 3-7, 2002
Nelspruit, South Africa

Historic Conference Organized in Association with Africa
Travel Association and Mpumalanga Tourism Authority

The Honorable Valli Moosa, South Africa's Minister of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism will officially open the
First IIPT (International Institute For Peace Through Tourism)
African Peace Through Tourism Conference in Nelspruit, South
Africa, March 3-7, 2002. The historic conference is being
organized in association with Africa Travel Association (ATA)
and Mpumalanga Tourism Authority (MTA).

In a joint statement, Louis D'Amore, IIPT President and
Founder, organizer of the conference, Mira Berman, ATA
Executive Director and Fiona Martin, Conference Committee
Chairperson on behalf of the Mpumalanga Tourism Authority,
South Africa, said "the tragic events of September 11, makes
the purpose of this historic conference even more compelling:
to foster African awareness of the social, cultural,
environmental and economic benefits of tourism and the role it
can play in facilitating an environment of reconciliation and
peace on the continent."

The conference was initiated by the Mpumalanga Tourism
Authority, in collaboration with the International Institute
for Peace through Tourism and the Africa Travel Association and
will build on the foundations of IIPT's three Global
Conferences: Vancouver (1988), Montreal (1994), Glasgow (1999),
and the first Global Summit on Peace through Tourism in Amman,
Jordan, held November 2000 under the Royal patronage of His
Majesty King Abdullah II.

It is anticipated that this first African Conference will make
a significant contribution to the vision of President Thabo
Mbeki for an African Renaissance, whereby African countries can
unite in harnessing their natural resources, wildlife, cultural
heritage and tourism attractions to achieve sustainable
development, a higher quality of life for all; and join with
the family of nations in support of the U.N. Decade of Peace
and Non-Violence for the Children of the world. Speakers will
represent such prestigious international organizations as the
World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council,
U.N. agencies, and the World Bank.

Conference Co-Chairs

Co-chairing the Conference are Dr. Noel Brown, Chairperson,
IIPT's Advisory Board; The Honorable Michael Afedi Gizo, MP of
the Republic of Ghana, and Immediate Past President Of ATA and
former Minister of Tourism of Ghana; The Most Reverend
Njongonkulu Ndungane, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. Both
Dr. Brown and Hon. Gizo were speakers at the first Global
Summit on Peace Through Tourism in Amman and the Archbishop has
been central to peace work in southern Africa over many years.

The Conference is expected to bring an estimated 350 delegates
from all corners of the African continent, in addition to other
international delegates with special expertise. Lou D'Amore
expressed hope that the African Conference will be the first of
a series of regional conferences and symposia leading up to the
Second Global Summit that will take place in Geneva,
Switzerland, October 13-16, 2002.

Mira Berman, ATA Executive Director said that "ATA, a founding
member of IIPT's Coalition of Partners for Peace Through
Tourism, under the leadership of ATA President, Hon. Zakia
Hamdani Meghji, M.P., Minister for Natural Resources and
Tourism, has played a major role in promoting the first IIPT
African Peace Through Tourism Conference." Fiona Martin,
speaking on behalf of the host organization, the Mpumalanga
Tourism Authority, stated "Hosting this prestigious event will
be the forerunner of other conferences throughout Africa, and
the beginning of a wave of practical ideas that can assist in
building a united, peaceful continent, through tourism." She
also noted "the MTA's humble initiative should aim to bring our
brothers and sisters of Africa together to share ideas on how
to make our beautiful continent peaceful and economically
sustainable. To use tourism as a catalyst for economic,
environmental and human resource development is a unique
concept and one that has great potential to facilitate Small
and Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) development in the
tourism sector and contribute to poverty alleviation. The
conference will be fundamentally 'African' in nature and the
focus will be on practical and sustainable outcomes that would
benefit all delegates, in their own country."

Areas of emphasis in the conference program will be:
Sustainable Development including Poverty Alleviation and
Community-based Tourism; Tourism and Environment with a view to
providing input to the Rio + 10 Conference; Healing the Wounds
of Conflict through Tourism; Cultural Heritage Tourism;
Educating for a Culture of Peace through Tourism; Access for
the Physically Disabled; and promotion of the World Tourism
Organization Codes of Ethics.

Peace Park Dedication

The first Peace Park in South Africa will be launched at God's
Window and "seeds of peace" will be handed to all delegates
to plant in their own countries and thereby continue the "peace
through tourism" movement in Africa. Delegates will also visit
rural community tourism projects that embrace the peace
building theme, where the opportunity exists for these to be
duplicated in other countries. Sponsorship for this conference
has been generously provided by three title sponsors, namely
The Development Bank of Southern Africa, The Provincial
Departments of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Department
of Sports, Arts Culture and Recreation. Other sponsors include
American Express Travel, Bermuda Ministry of Tourism, European
Union, Protea Hotels, Group 5, Anglo American, Emnotweni Arena,
South African Tourism, Air Harbour Technologies, ABSA Bank,
Kodak, Trans African Concessions, Reed Travel Exhibitions;
ESAPPI, South African Airways, South African Airlink. South
African Airways is supporting the conference with special fares
for ATA delegates from the U.S. Gateways.

About ATA

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is an international,
nonprofit, nonpolitical, travel industry association
established in 1975 to promote tourism to the continent of
Africa. Its membership includes African Government Tourism
Offices, international airlines, hoteliers, cruise lines, tour
operators, travel agents, tourism educators and public
relations/marketing firms. ATA is a member of the American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA); World Tourism Organization
(WTO); a founding member of IIPT's Coalition of Partners for
Peace through Tourism; and an industry partner in the "Green
Globe" program.

About IIPT

IIPT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering
and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to
international understanding and cooperation, improved quality
of environment, preservation of heritage, and a peaceful,
sustainable world.

About MTA

The Mpumalanga Tourism Authority is currently a Section 21
Company, responsible for tourism marketing in the province on
behalf of the Mpumalanga Government. The company works closely
with the Government Tourism Directorate, which is responsible
for the development of tourism in previously disadvantaged
areas of Mpumalanga and for facilitating assistance to small,
medium and microenterprises and emerging entrepreneurs.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Conference Program and Registration:
www.peace-conference.co.za
email: [email protected]
Secretariat in South Africa:
Tel/fax: 27-12-3477257
In US:
IIPT website: www.iipt.org
Email: [email protected]
Tel (802) 253-2658; Fax: (802) 253-2645
ATA website: www.africa-ata.org
Tel (212) 447-0027; fax (212) 725-8253

Editorial Contacts:
South Africa :Oscar Nkosi 27 13 752 7001;
Email: [email protected]
US: Karen Hoffman
212 447 1926;
Email: [email protected]