International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is pleased to announce that Stenden University (formerly CHN University) will host the First IIPT European Conference:

“Bridging the North–South Divide through Sustainable Tourism Development”

The Conference, which will take place in both The Hague and Leeuwarden, is scheduled for the week of October 19, 2008. The Conference is in support of the United Nations declared International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010), and the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

Topics to be addressed in the context of the theme “Bridging the North – South Divide through Sustainable Tourism Development” will include:

Gaining greater leverage from North – South initiatives including the roles of Donor Agencies, Foundations, and NGO’s
South – South Initiatives in Sustainable Tourism Development
Innovative Initiatives within Developing Countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDC's) and the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)
Innovative Private Sector Initiatives
Recent Developments in Micro-Enterprise
Volunteer Tourism, Philanthropic Tourism, Fair Trade Tourism
Knowledge Transfer and the Contribution of Technology to Sustainable Tourism Development

The Role of Culture and Sport
Persons wishing to nominate “Success Stories” or “Models of Best Practice” in any of the above topics – or other relevant areas – are invited to send project/program descriptions to: Amy Garrett, Email: agarrett@iipt.org.

In announcing the 1st IIPT European Conference, IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore said, “I am most impressed with the value driven and globally oriented foundations of Stenden’s educational programs – and the university’s student-centered visionary leadership. Modern facilities add further to the dynamic nature of the university and its nurturing, learning environment.”

“As well, the city of Leeuwarden – the “Best Student City of the Netherlands” – provides a supportive and stimulating setting to the Stenden University students, and blends seamlessly with the peaceful rural environment of Fryslân. The Hague – a short distance away, is a unique beacon of inspiration as an international “City of Knowledge” and “City of Peace, Justice and Security.”

The University is truly international, having campuses in Thailand, Qatar, South Africa, and Germany in addition to its main campus in the Netherlands.

Stenden University Vice President and Executive Board Member Dr. Klaas-Wybo van der Hoek stated "We are honoured and pleased that IIPT has agreed to hold its 1st European Conference at our university and offer a warm welcome to all delegates to The Netherlands, Fryslan, Leeuwarden and Stenden University. We look forward to hosting the conference as we share IIPT’s philosophy and values regarding the contribution that tourism can make towards a sustainable and peaceful world and seek to pass these values on to our students together with the necessary knowledge that can move us towards these ends.”

The Conference will bring together senior executives from both the public and private sectors of tourism; senior officials of UN Agencies, the European Union, World Bank, UN World Tourism Organization, and other international organizations; and relevant NGO’s, as well as policy makers, educators, leading practitioners, entrepreneurs, future leaders of the industry, and senior representatives of related sectors including culture, environment and economic development.

The 1st IIPT European Conference builds on the foundations of: three Global Summits: Amman 2000; Geneva 2003; and Pattaya, Thailand 2005; three Global Conferences: Vancouver 1988; Montreal 1994; and Glasgow 1999; four African Conferences: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa 2002; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2003; Lusaka, Zambia, 2005; and Kampala, Uganda 2007; and several smaller conferences, symposia and workshops in Europe, Australia, North America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Source: Eturbonews.com