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Africa
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FIRST
IIPT AFRICAN PEACE THROUGH TOURISM CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES: Provide a forum of
leading thinkers and decision makers to explore and develop
practical mechanisms to facilitate and support initiatives
that contribute to: PROGRAM: The Conference program will feature prominent keynote speakers and the presentation and discussion of "Success Stories" and models of "Best Practice" selected from the African Experience. Opportunities for inter-action and networking will be provided with a view to taking models of Success and Best Practice "to the next step". The Conference is in support of the U.N. Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. CONTACT INFORMATION: USA- IIPT
website: www.iipt.org;
GLOBAL SUMMIT ON PEACE THROUGH TOURISM African American
author
Alex Haley lit
the spark.
See the Slave
Route,
Peace
Dividends and
other features below 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. Royal Jordanian Airlines is the official air carrier for the Summit; Austrian Airlines is a cooperating carrier. Grand Hyatt Amman is the Summit Venue and Headquarter Hotel; other Summit Hotels include the Amman Marriott Hotel, Radisson SAS Hotel Amman, and Jordan Inter-Continental Hotel. International Traders, Amman, is providing Conference Management services. Summit sponsors, in addition to Title Sponsor, American Express, include Gold Sponsor, Air Harbour Technologies; Silver Sponsors, Archaeology Magazine, Bass Hotels & Resorts, International Traders, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Zara Investments; Bronze Sponsors, ASTA Agency Management, b-there.com, Leisure Travel News, Travel Counselor and Travel World News. Global Summit
Information Contacts: IIPT website: www.iipt.org Peace
Dividend: Tours and Pilgrimages by Jerry W. Bird "To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least African American
author Alex Haley lit the spark with his epic novel and TV
series "Roots," as millions now look to Africa as their new
Mecca. How big is this new-found tourism bonanza? According
to President Clinton, 30 million Americans, more than one in
ten, proudly trace their heritage to Africa. Since Caribbean
and South American ties are equally strong, today's cultural
tours and pilgrimages to Africa involve people from the
entire hemisphere and various religious faiths. As African
Cultural and Genealogical web sites spring up like lilies of
the field, Black History Month has become today's hot item,
causing several African airlines to offer low February
fares. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) has led the way
towards a program that will link the "Slave Route" to
regional programs of cultural tourism development -
restoration monuments and historic sites, promoting museums,
festivals and events. Voodoo Culture: Travel Agent and writer Muguette Goufrani spent a full day at Togo's Akodessewas, the world's largest fetish market. Its array of sorcerers' potions included roots, bark, monkey skulls, wart hog teeth, porcupine skins, leopard hides, antelope horns, bones of crocodiles, horses, pigs and monkeys, plus various parts of human anatomy. Just like western style pharmacies dispense syrups, powders and pills, West African concoctions are used to cure everything from diarrhea and flu, to cuts, impotence and rheumatism. Muguette tried on a gris gris (necklace), which is said to work its magic when blessed by a fetish priest. Part doctor, part psychic, the priest relies on herbal medicines, charms and a healthy dose of positive thinking. As Muguette says, "They believe that the spirits are everywhere -- in the air, the trees, the water - even buildings. A priest calls on his favorite god to predict future events, and keep evil forces at bay. He sits on a stool in his colorful robe, holding a regal staff, receiving gifts of gin, which he sips as a troupe performs ritual chanting and dancing. A sacrificial offering is made as a show of loyalty and respect to the spirits, and to gain special favors, such as the birth of twins. " When we visited Benin, Muguette had just returned from Haiti and saw close similarities in beliefs between Caribbeans and villagers we met in Abomey, Ganvie and Ouidah. There we walked reverently through a sacred forest, saw the thrones and regalia of a long succession of Dahomey royalty, and dined with village leaders. What was the common denominator in the various African countries we visited in the last 5 years? All were sharing tourism dividends brought by a decade or more of peace and political stability. May this be a lesson for other African countries that Peace Through Tourism is truly achievable. Information: http://www.africa-ata.org/togo.htm, e-mail: africa@dowco.com
Peace
in Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba's This spring in Ethiopia, the desire for 'peace through tourism' was in the air, written on the faces, and evident in the words of everyone we met. Arriving via Ethiopian Airlines from New York, we flew the country's Holy Route, with overnight stops at Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa and Harar. Here on a journey into history, we visited stone churches carved out of the mountain-face, and strolled amongst the castles and moats of Africa's Camelot. Cruising Lake Tana, we discovered a hidden monastery and followed a fleet of papyrus canoes carrying firewood to market. Later, we gazed down upon the legendary Blue Nile, toured Emperor Haile Selassie's Palace, and boarded his royal railway coaches. Others in our group visited Dire Dawa and the walled city of Harar, a site right out of Arabian Nights. Captured in our cameras were hundreds of faces and dozens of places we will never forget. In Addis Ababa, the capital, we took part in a live media interview. I gave them my feelings that Ethiopia is a safe and friendly destination, with an abundance of attractions, a rich history, natural beauty and a superb climate. My most unforgettable moment was at Holy Trinity Church in Addis Ababa, with its spiritual presence, rich pageantry and 500 voices united in prayer and celebration. The magnificent setting, exotic musical renditions and blaze of colorful costumes were a marvelous salute to peace and goodwill. This event was a sample of the many festivals and celebrations that occur year round in a country where religious tolerance is a way of life. Further proof that Ethiopia is prepared to welcome visitors in a big way, is the number and quality of tour operators and guides we met during our 3-week visit. In addition to staying at a range of hotels, from tourist to luxury class, interviews with several developers revealed plans for many new hotels, resorts and safari lodges. Things are definitely on an upswing thanks to the rewards of tourism in a new era of peace. Coffee Plantation Tours: Knowing what a rage farm weekends and wine country tours have become, why not consider tours of East African coffee plantations? Considering the almost religious significance of this valuable crop in much of East Africa it seems as natural a tourism option as dude ranches in Texas. How did it all begin?
According to an old Ethiopian legend , when a young herdsman
noticed his goats became quite frisky after dining on a
clump of bright red berries, he sampled a handful and found
that they caused a similar effect. Anxious to share the
secret, he told a local monk, who found that the berries
kept him and his fellow monks more alert during evening
prayers. Thus a popular custom was born and a vast
industry created. In Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, coffee
has long been considered a medicine, a food and a beverage.
The coffee ceremony has special significance, as we first
learned at a trade show in Tanzania, in travel throughout
Ethiopia and working with Kenya Tourism on its latest North
American tour.
Peaceful
Traveler's Affirmation "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: With those thoughtful
words as your guide, you are better prepared to face the
world.
Tanzania:
Protecting Africa's Serengeti
Superstars
Return
to Paradise Mozambique, East Africa: Educator and humanitarian, Dr. Jose Lopes of 'Africahouse' in Maputo, has witnessed the vital role tourism plays in bringing people together. Despite long-standing conflicts with this former East African colony, the Portuguese are returning. On a larger scale and of more recent note, white South Africans, sworn for decades during apartheid, are once again flocking to Mozambique's balmy beaches and 1500 miles of Indian Ocean coastline. "Today, via tourism," says Dr. Lopes "peace is gaining at a very fast pace, and as Nelson Mandela says, let bygones be bygones." Mario Melloni of Wonz Dar Expeditions of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia echoes these sentiments. "Mozambique is a wonderful country, " he says. An expert river guide, Mario has explored its challenging rivers, and has just returned from a similar adventure in Madagascar. To him, rivers are Africa's historic highways, which transcend all man made borders. He welcomes the end of hostilities, from the horn of Africa to its southernmost regions. Information: http://www.africa-ata.org/mozambique.htm, e-mail: africa@dowco.com.
Ghana's
Voice for Peace "Prejudices about a country or its people can best be removed by visiting the place. The stone walls of prejudice and indifference are crumbling fast, as vast areas of the world, including much of Africa, open their doors to tourism. Today's need for solid partnerships and workable action plans has become front and center." To me the concept of "Peace Through Tourism" goes back ten years, when I was asked to help launch a magazine on this fascinating topic. I was inspired by the example of founder Louis D'Amore and how he had recruited persons of influence worldwide. However these lofty plans were shelved by our employer. But fate stepped in, and 7 years later in Accra, Ghana, when I met Mr. D' Amore, we became friends on sight. Thus I volunteered to work with Ghana's Tourism Minister, Hon. Mike Gizo, on the keynote address for a Peace Summit in Scotland. We called it
"Building Bridges Between Developed and Undeveloped
Countries., " using the analogy of six swinging bridges at
Ghana's Kakum National Forest. The various bridges
represented Awareness, Understanding, Opportunity,
Enterprise, Prosperity and the bridging of Time and Space.
By connecting all six bridges, Peace through Tourism will be
achieved. I tried crossing the actual bridges, and can vouch
for the fact that it's not always an easy task. Kakum
National Forest and the magnificent Gold Coast nearby, with
its beaches and historic castles, are two of the many
reasons to put Ghana on your travel agenda. |
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