An initiative of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), in collaboration with the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) and SKAL International, the IIPT Global Peace Parks Project aims to circle the earth with over 2,000 Peace Parks by 21 September 2017 (the UN International Day of Peace). By Des Langkilde.
As a media partner to (and member of) both IIPT and ICTP, Tourism Tattler is supporting the IIPT Global Peace Park Project initiative by offering extensive editorial coverage to all Africa based tourism stakeholders who dedicate a piece of land and unveil their peace park dedication ceremony to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace on 21 September 2017.
Who can dedicate a IIPT Peace Park?
The IIPT Global Peace Park Project is open to Public and Private initiatives. They can be public sector national landmarks within a country, a section within a city, town, village and rural area, such as public parks or beaches, an official walking trail or a tourism route. In the private sector they can be a dedicated section within a game reserve, or a garden in a hotel or holiday resort property.
There are over 400 IIPT Peace Parks dotting the globe, with seven notable IIPT Peace Parks in Africa: at the Uganda Martyr’s Basilica, Namugongo, Uganda; the Dag Hammarskjold Memorial site, Ndola, Zambia; Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and three in South Africa: at God’s Window in Mpumalanga, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
An additional eight IIPT Peace Parks are incorporated as part of IIPT/Skal Cities, Towns and Villages of Peace Program in South Africa: Knysna, and Stellenbosch, Western Cape; Skills Village 2030, Cullinan, Rayton, Overwacht, Alexandra Township and Dinokeng Game Reserve all in Gauteng Province.
The IIPT Global Peace Parks Project provides an ideal platform for the tourism industry in Africa to showcase its unique tourist attractions to a global audience, and to make a powerful statement on the continent’s, and your tourism product’s, commitment to fostering peace in Africa.
What is an IIPT Peace Park?
For centuries the natural space between trees has been considered sacrosanct. Ancient cultures beginning with the Greeks and the Vikings believed that such a space was ‘Bosco Sacro’ – the Sacred Space. Other first nations dwelt on the spirituality that existed in the metaphor of the tree; a Tree’s roots grasp the earth and are nurtured by it, while its branches reach out to the endless possibilities of the heavens.
Using the ‘Bosco Sacro’ concept, the original IIPT Peace Parks in Canada incorporated 12 trees as a symbolic link with one another, and with nature – and as a symbol of hope for the future. The 12 trees were also symbolic of Canada’s 10 Provinces and two Territories. However, this can be a number of trees that is particularly symbolic to the city, town or village.
Founded by IIPT president Louis D’Amore in 1992 to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation (July 1, 1867), ‘Peace Parks Across Canada’ served as the foundation for an ‘IIPT Global Peace Parks Program’, which was launched at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the baptismal site of Christ, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 2000 – the first year of the new Millennium, as a legacy of the IIPT Global Summit in Amman, Jordan.
The objective of the IIPT Peace Park is to:
- Nurture the growth of peace and understanding at home and throughout the world.
- Enhance awareness of a community’s commitment to peace.
- Create a common ground for members of the community to come together in celebration of their nation’s people, land, and heritage, and the common future of all humankind.
- Provide a place of reflection on our connectedness to one another as a Global Family and to the earth of which we are all a part.
The Peace Park should include a plaque designating the park as an IIPT Peace Park – date of the dedication – and appropriate quotation relating to peace, or the IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveller.
For public sector Peace Parks it is advisable to conduct workshops with representatives of the diverse civic organizations and population segments to reflect on the concept of peace – and what peace means to the community. How this concept of Peace might be reflected in the dedication of the Peace Park and thereafter with activities in the Park.
IIPT and ICTP request that all parks dedicated prior to 21 September, 2017 – be re-dedicated on that date in a demonstration of solidarity and peace around the world – and with the aim of creating a global media event in support of Peace and Sustainable Development – during the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
How do you register your IIPT Peace Park?
All IIPT Peace Parks are subject to approval by the IIPT and ICTP. To register go to www.ictp.travel/peace-park fill-in the form, attach a photo, plan or document in Word / PDF file format, and explain the name, details of the park, and exact location of your dedication in the space provided.
There is an administration fee of $500.00 (USD) for public parks and $1000.00 (USD) for parks on private property. Fees for charities and certain non-profit projects can be waived. The administration fee includes your official listing as an IIPT Peace Park on the IIPT and ICTP web portals. It will also include a joint IIPT / ICTP press release.
Renewing your pledge on a yearly basis will support IIPT and ICTP activities, but is not mandatory to keep your status as an IIPT Peace Park once approved.
Apply to be nominated as an IIPT Peace Park HERE.
About the IIPT: The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction, and healing wounds of conflict; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world. It is founded on a vision of the world’s largest industry – travel and tourism – becoming the world’s first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveller is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.”
For more information visit the IIPT website: www.iipt.org
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