Promoting peace and cultural understanding has become a major tourism industry trend.
Promoting peace and cultural understanding has become a major tourism industry trend. On opening day of the 4th IIPT (International Institute for Peace Through Tourism) African Conference in Kampala, Uganda, ministers of tourism spoke with passion. Big media companies will send one reporter to Nairobi (Kenya) to cover East Africa, said one minister, then send another reporter to Lagos (Nigeria) to cover West Africa! Yet the African continent has more than fifty countries, many emerging economies, beautiful land forms, natural resources, rich cultures and hospitable people.
Between May 20 and 24, about 400 delegates from over 30 countries became acquainted during plenary sessions and "models of best practice" sessions. Sustainable, responsible, educational, people-to-people, fair trade, cultural, philanthropic, ethical, reconciliation, and community tourism focus on different aspects, yet all contribute to peace.
Midweek, delegates traveled out to explore Uganda countryside. At the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre near Entebbe airport, 50-some species including chimpanzees, tortoises, warthogs, shoebills, crocodiles, rhinos, and storks inhabit an open-air sanctuary. Black-and-white colobus monkeys scamper through the tree tops, while vervet monkeys play on the grass. For one willing visitor, a handler draped a 3.5 foot rock python around his shoulders. Other visitors were content to watch a lion, dozing behind a fence in the midday heat.
On the last day, during the First Africa Media Exchange, print/radio/TV/digital media professionals from four countries generated ideas and action plans for „a more balanced and positive image of Africa--its lands, its cultures, and its people.?
The week wasn't all meetings. At a gala farewell dinner - held outdoors under airy white tents -delegates from dozens of countries danced to music of Annet Nandujja & The Planets. Conference over, the delegates went home with the Email addresses of new friends, and indelible memories: the drum beats of tribal music, the taste of matooke and ground nut sauce, the colors of Africa?s red earth and green hills.
Sally McKinney attended a delegate from the Society of American Travel Writers visit www.satw.org <http://www.satw.org/>
For more about the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism visit www.iipt.org
Contact: Sally McKinney
Travel journalist/author
Web site www.sallymckinney.com
Post Office Box 1225
Bloomington, IN 47402-1225 USA