Tourism: Catalyst for fostering peace

Tourism can play a vital role as a catalyst for fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation processes. Keeping with this year’s theme for World Tourism Day – Tourism and Peace. TRAVTALK speaks to industry leaders on how tourism stands for respect, friendship, and peace.

TT Bureau

Tourism is clearly linked to the building blocks of peace – such as social justice, human rights, economic equity, sustainable development, and broad-based democracy with the capability of non-violent conflict resolution. Tourism’s biggest strength, besides being an economic powerhouse, is to bring people together in non-adversarial circumstances. Tourism has the potential to contribute to peace in many ways and these need to be appropriately explored and assessed. Tourism as an instrument for peace needs to be peace sensitive and needs to be understood from both – the suppliers and consumer’s side – not as an isolated peace strategy, but as part of

social transformation towards a culture of peace.

Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC, says, “Travel and tourism is a powerful force for global peace and understanding. As they say travel broadens the mind, fostering respect for different cultures. During natural disasters and conflict our sector keeps air routes, and hotels open. Economic growth lifts people out of poverty and provides work to millions. Today, as we celebrate World Tourism Day, let’s harness the transformative power of travel to build a more peaceful, interconnected world.”

A peace-sensitive tourism is aware of the economic and social forces, and thus social responsibility. It aims to contribute within the limits of the opportunities but aware of the power of alliances to the democratisation of society, of international relations and of the world system as such. Moreover, tourism provides a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. By encouraging creative solutions and new business models, tourism can drive economic growth and provide unique opportunities for young talent. Supporting entrepreneurial initiatives in tourism can lead to sustainable development and create platforms for innovative peacebuilding strategies. The future of tourism lies in the hands of young people.

Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East, UN Tourism, says, “The pursuit of peace is a continuing endeavour, and its progress through tourism diplomacy is more relevant than ever. Tourism can play a vital role as a catalyst for fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation, tolerance, and acknowledgement of the rights of others. Reflecting the harmonious correlation between tourism and peace, tourism flourishes where peace prevails, and peace is promoted and driven among nations through tourism. The official celebrations of the World Tourism Day, which will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 27 September 2024, will be our chance to raise our collective voice and make clear that tourism stands for respect, friendship and, above all, peace. This year’s theme is ‘Tourism and Peace’. It puts a strong accent on tourism’s unique potential as an instrument for mutual understanding and peace.”