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International Institute for Peace through Tourism | India

Resilience through Tourism Summit 2018

The winners of the inaugural IIPT regional awards are announced at Amman.

The first regional Resilience through Tourism Summit organized by the Travel Weekly group in association with Jordan Tourism Board and USAID was held at the Fairmont, Amman on 26 and 27 June 2018. The Summit concluded with the IIPT regional Awards for Peace Through Tourism which were handed out by Dr. Taleb Rifai - former Secretary General UNWTO and Chairman of the IIPT Advisory Board, Peter Greenberg - Travel Editor CBS News and Ajay Prakash - President IIPT India.

The international jury comprising Dr. Taleb Rifai, Dr. Louis D’Amore, Anita Mendiratta, Fiona Jeffrey OBE, Debbie Flynn and Ajay Prakash selected  4 winners out of 28 nominations received from local businesses, destinations and NGO’S.

Speaking of the Awards, Louis D’Amore, Founder President of IIPT said, “The regional International Peace Through Tourism Awards have been launched to highlight global tourism’s contribution to prosperity and peace.  The new awards act as a benchmark to celebrate how far countries and communities have come since the Amman Declaration on Peace Through Tourism was confirmed in 2000 at the IIPT’s previous Global Summit. With Jordan playing host to the RTTS Summit, the Middle East was given the unique first opportunity to showcase the considerable progress of peace through tourism in the region.”

  • Peace Through Community Enhancement Award

Joint winners - Petra National Trust and Jordan River Foundation

Established in 1989, Petra National Trust (PNT) is a registered Jordanian nongovernmental organization and Jordan’s integral body in the conservation, preservation, and sustainable management of national cultural heritage – with a focus on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra. It has successfully coordinated preservation projects and studies on such issues as the Nabataean hydrological systems, biodiversity, the geophysical stability of the Siq, and the unique Nabataean wall painting at Beidha.

Jordan River Foundation (JRF) was established in 1995 by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah with the overall aim of empowering communities and promoting child safety. Starting with the Bani Hamida Weaving Project, it is now part of the Jordan River Designs Handicrafts Program (JRD); a socio-economic program for women to provide employment opportunities that enhance their livelihoods while developing their knowledge and skills in handicraft production and entrepreneurship.

  • Peace Through Cultural Diversity Award

Winner – Jordan Trail Association

Recently chosen by National Geographic Traveller as one of the world’s best tourism destinations, the Jordan Trail Association has introduced the 52 villages it passes through to the benefits of tourism and provided much needed revenue and employment to local residents. This year resulted in 70,000 JD’s being spent directly on local community engagement

  • Peace Through Respect of Sustainable Development Award

              Winner – Ecohotels (Feynan Ecolodge)

Operated with minimal impact on the environment, Feynan Ecolodge offers guests unique and authentic experiences while contributing to the conservation of Dana Reserve and helping the impoverished local community through employment and micro business development.  In particular, all staff are from the local community with 50% of revenue benefitting the local residents and all electricity used by the Ecolodge is generated by photovoltaic panels.

Dr Taleb Rifai, chairman of the IIPT Advisory Board and former Secretary General of the UNWTO commented: “We received amazing nominations from such a truly diverse range of institutions across Jordan and beyond.  Every single entry demonstrated an exemplary commitment to achieving peace through tourism and the judges had a very difficult job determining the winners - so congratulations to everyone who entered.”

Speaking about the Awards, Ajay Prakash, President IIPT India said, "While discussing Resilience through Tourism, it is important to recognise and applaud businesses and organisations who perceive tourism as a force for good, and who, through this recognition of their work, could serve as role models." 

Fiona Jeffery, Founder & Chairman, Just a Drop commented: “It’s been an honour as a Global Ambassador for Peace Through Tourism to judge these inaugural awards. It’s also truly impressive the standard of exemplary tourism development work emerging from the Middle East and Jordan in particular that these awards have helped highlight and share with the rest of the world.”

Commenting on the Resilience through Tourism Summit and the Awards, Daniela Wagner, Jacobs Media said "Jordan truly embodies the spirit of Resilience and the power of Tourism as a vehicle for Peace. It is fitting that the first IIPT Regional Awards are being held in Amman which was the setting for the first global summit on Peace Through Tourism in 2000." 

Anita Mendiratta, Founder and President Cachet Consulting, a sponsor of the Awards says: "In today's world forces of change - politically, economically, socially and environmentally - are causing people to question their role as part of the global community. The continued, strong growth of the tourism sector is a direct reflection of the desire of literally hundreds of millions of people across countries, cultures and ideologies to make a conscious effort to learn more about one another, discovering that through respecting and appreciating our differences, we find we are united in our desire for a better, more peaceful tomorrow. The inaugural IIPT Destination Awards, announced in the Kingdom of Jordan, celebrate tourism entities that actively seek to foster this strengthening of connection through travel. CACHET Consulting is immensely proud to be a partner of these prestigious, important awards, and sincerely applaud all nominees and winners."

The Awards were hosted by Jordan Tourism Board and supported by Abdali group, Cachet Consulting, The Travel Corporation and Robin Tauck.

Note to Editors:   

The International Institute For Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) was founded in 1986, the UN International Year of Peace, with a view towards a travel and tourism industry response to the peaking of terrorism in 1985/’86 (much of it aimed at the travel industry); the growing tensions of East and West (in the early ’80s); a deteriorating environment; and the growing gap of have and have not regions of the world. Since its founding in 1986, IIPT has brought together global leaders from all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, as well as the areas of culture, environment and development. It is founded on two very simple yet powerful premises:  that tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, can become the first Global Peace Industry, and that every tourist is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.