ICPTR

Thank you note

First, I would like to start by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all for being here. Your presence honors our guests who have come from far to share with us. Your presence supports an idea, and an ideal. Your presence supports a member of the family, a friend, a colleague, or just somebody who, like millions of others, is trying to make a difference to make a better world for his family, for his friends, for his colleagues, and for people out there.

I call this happening Hope. No matter how smart, hard working and qualified you may be, when you come from a background like mine, to a background where those whom you just happened to look like, or have similar cultural backgrounds, are facing challenges related to lower education, are less qualified and do underpaid jobs, or engage in delinquency –Call this description perception or reality. It is a reality in my life, direct or indirect, which hopefully won’t remain a reality in the lives of my children: it is very difficult to be heard or to be given a chance to climb up the ladder of social mobility. In some similar cases intellectual capital does hardly count, but it counts even less for allochtonen or foreigners. God knows how much I dislike this word, especially when I think about my children!

That being said, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the persons who have made this happening a reality: Mr. Klaas-Wybo van der Hoek, our Vice President, and Mr. Robert Veenstra our President. Without the vision of Klaas-Wybo, I won’t be here talking to you, today. So, Klaas-Wybo, thank you for bringing back to me what I had once lost: Trust and Hope.

I would also like to thank the tourism management team, Ron Hekman for his friendship, our Dean Dr. Falco de Klerk Wolters for his understanding, and our secretariat for their support.

It is really difficult for me to write a speech about something that does not exist –tourism for peace lectoraat- and about which topic I know but little. I could say a lot about casino gaming management, and corresponding publications in academic gaming journals. Actually, my PhD. Dissertation is entitled “Changes in selected economic and social indicators associated with the establishment of casinos in the City of Detroit”. The Tourism for Peace Lectoraat is a timely invention which, steadily, but surely will take shape at our University.

First I am going to talk about the concept of peace in general. Afterwards I will say something about my own philosophy of peace, which will be followed by the role of education for peace, and finally the tourism for peace lectoraat’s aims and objectives, as well as tasks and activities.

Of peace and peacelessness

Peace is often considered as an opposite word of war. The word peace is not often mentioned in a time of peace, but is usually mentioned when war or violent conflict occurs. Nations are making every effort to keep peace by defending their society from the threat of war, violence and terrorism through the building of armaments and armies. In this context, peace is defined negatively as the “absence of war” (Satani, 2003).

In 1941 Quincy Wright suggested that peace was a more complicated matter than a mere ‘absence of war’ for the first time. Looking at situations in developing countries, where nobody felt peaceful even without war, Sugata Dasgupta named the state of ‘absence of war’ in developing countries ‘peacelessness.’ Even if there is no armed war or conflict some people suffer from diseases that are preventable. Some starve to death although there is enough food on earth. Some are denied a decent education, housing, an opportunity to play, to grow, to work, to raise a family, to have a right to freedom of speech, or to take part in their governance. They would never feel peaceful in such situations where their human rights and dignity are violated (Satani, 2003, (http://beemanet.com/2003/peace/essays/dissertation.pdf).

All over the world, “intelligence and energy are evenly distributed, but opportunity, investment, and effective organizations aren’t. As a result, billions of people are denied the chance to live their lives to the fullest, and millions die needlessly every year (Bill Clinton, 2007).

My philosophy of peace

From a theological perspective

The lectoraat is about peace through tourism. Yet, let me first make it clear to our respected audience that I am not a deluded person. I don’t believe in everlasting peace. Or should I say I don’t believe in everlasting peace on earth.

Think about the story of the Messiah?

Isn’t he coming to save the world from darkness? Don’t all the scriptures talk about the coming of the saviour? If this is so, then one may say that my quest for peace is futile, or let’s say does not make sense. Does it? If it does, then tomorrow is the end of the world. But I think the end of the world is tomorrow after tomorrow, so that human kind have enough time to think about humanity and what makes us human.

So the Messiah will come to get the world out of darkness, so there is always going to be some dark spots in our history, and now one might ask and what is my job if I don’t believe in everlasting peace on earth. To the sceptics I say: let’s forget about everlasting peace but let’s just focus on making the job of the Messiah a little easier!

From a theological perspective, if we believe in everlasting peace on earth then we would already be in heaven, but just think a second about what’s happening in this world and we know that this is no heaven. However, we can contribute to making of this world heaven on earth, with more good and less bad, with more rights and less wrongs. Just like death, it has always been there but exercise, healthy food, and good doctors, if they don’t prolong our lives they reduce our pains. Same here: war, conflict, and peacelessness will always be with us, but we have the natural capabilities to also overcome them.

From a secular perspective

Do you think we can do this? Do you believe in humanity?

Well, sometimes, I must confess, I think that life is short, nasty and brutish and that the state of life is a state of people against each other (T. Hobbes), and others, I think that life is good. Most of the time I think that people are good (J. Locke; J.J. Rousseau), this is why I am sad.

Why are you sad? If you believe that people are good, then what makes you sad?

Let me ask you: are you happy?

Ask whether I am happy and I cease to be (J. S. Mill).

Hey, you are been too philosophical here, my good fellow.

It is simple. Let me ask you the same question before I give you my answer: Are you happy?

Yes, I am happy. I have a partner, a house, a dog, and I am working on the car. Then I can say My life is complete.

Ok! Let me put it differently: Take a minute and leave your comfort zone. Now think about it gain: are you happy?

Are you yourself?

I am not. Let me say when I go outside my comfort zone, I realise that I am not. I am sad. Or, you know what? call me Sappy: for I am never all happy neither all sad. I am Sappy.

Of education

•Today, every nation is vulnerable. Conventional military approaches are increasingly powerless to protect a nation against terrorist attack, against new destructive technologies, or against missiles with pinpoint accuracy.

•“According to recent research, traditional approaches to national security fail because they do not address the underlying cause of violence and conflict: they do not relieve the acute political, ethnic, and religious tensions that fuel terrorism and conflict. We need an effective means to eliminate these deep-seated tensions — a proven approach that can safeguard.

•to promote daily, enduring interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings. Most of all, we need to demonstrate, prove and convince people that people are good!

•Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed

(Constitution of UNESCO, 1945, Preamble). Thus, there is a need to raise awareness about the so many facets of peace, and educate our minds and the minds of our children at home, in school, and through the media.

Thank you!

(More on this, see tourism for peace lectoraat activities)

Circuit of Peace: A student Field Trip

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness (Mark Twain)

Travel has become one of the great forces for peace and understanding in our time. As people move throughout the world and learn to know each other, to understand each other’s customs and to appreciate the qualities of individuals of each nation, we are building a level of international understanding which can sharply improve the atmosphere of world peace (J. F. Kennedy)

Travel is education and education is travel. A journey into the world is a journey to know the other, one another, and oneself.

The intent of the field trip is to bridge cultural gaps between students of different cultures.

Tourism4Peace Forum 

An Example of Best Practice in Peace through Tourism Education

africa-conference-photo-of-delegates-with-uganda-president

africa-conference-photo-with-soni-irabor

 

 Preamble

The Tourism4Peace Forum was established in 2005 as an initiative by the Israel Hotel Management Association and sponsored by the Peres Center for Peace. The purpose of the creation of the forum is to advance peace through tourism by strengthening dialogue and ties between the regions and the tourism industry. The third annual meeting of the Tourism4Peace Forum was hosted for the first time outside the Middle East, in the Netherlands. The Tourism4Peace conference was organised by the Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland (CHN University) in October 31-November2, 2006.

A panel presentation included senior hospitality executives of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, The Palestinian Authority. Their presentation included a prototype tour brochure, “The Pillars of Civilization,” which illustrates their vision for regional tourism promotion. The four-country tour program offers cultural experiences, religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land and a wide variety of tourist sites and resorts.

By endorsing this vision delegates agreed among many others to 1) work towards easing freedom of movement for easier access to tourists and Palestinian tourism professionals in the area; 2) gather efforts on joint marketing and promotion activities; and 3) facilitate joint professional workshops for top hotel and travel executives in the region.

 

Overview

Delegates respectively presented tourism in their countries indicating respective unique selling points (USPs) but also emphasizing the cultural similarities that exist between the concerned destinations.

 

No borders, no boundaries, no animosity; just beautiful cultural experience

That was the message by delegate from Israel Rafi Baeri, Executive Vice President of the Dan Hotels-Israel to the students. The Tourism4Peace forum conference at the CHN university has been of an important success, not only because it has gathered delegates from the Arab world and Israel around the same table, but most importantly because it has served as an eye-opener for students -citizens of the world, future marketers, politicians, policymaker and entrepreneurs- making them more aware of the importance and power of tourism as a facilitator and beneficiary of peace.

 

You probably won’t believe it, but there are people in the Middle East who want peace

Janos Damon, Executive Director, Irael Hotel Manager Association

 

The delegates’ echoed message was that, despite the conflict, tourism does happen in their region and could and should grow even more because of the so many tourism treasures and opportunities that this part of the world offers. While the media tend to ‘over dramatise’ the situation in the Middle East, sensitise and sensationalise their media products, it is time to ‘cheer up’ a bit. The challenge of the delegates has been on focusing on, and emphasising, the other somewhat forgotten face of the Middle East. Their mission thus has been to cover the other side of the story and, through tourism, share with the people of the world the other positive realities of the region.

 Surely, there is conflict, but not only that: there is life as well. The delegates have taken a non-political strategy and collected their efforts around marketing their region as a one and inviting tourism destination that has hospitable people, full of life and energy. Their joint destination marketing presentation entitled the Pillars of Civilization indicates: For the first time in history, you can experience all of our glorious sites in one visit, with one ticket, at one low price. Discover the magic of our cultures, our people, our histories, our hospitality. Tourism is about hospitality and hospitality is about bringing guests and hosts together.

 

The Major challenge: First, it was difficult for students to relate the contents of the conference, which is primarily destination marketing, to its primary purpose which relates to promoting peace in the region. That was an unfamiliar concept to our students. During each presentation and at the end of the conference, a number of questions were asked but several of them remained unclear to them. The two most challenging questions were: a) how can we talk about peace in such a troubled region without talking about politics? And b) tourism contributes to peace or peace contributes to tourism?

 

Challenges faced

• Before the conference students were very much enthusiastic to learn more about a very timely and interesting topic: Peace through Tourism.
• During the conference: the level of euphoria had levelled down, because the delegates’ presentations was perceived to be less challenging than expected; more about destination marketing than about ‘peace’.
• At the end of the conference: a level of apathy or disinterest was reached.

Actions implemented

• Discussion and feedback after the conference
  • Raising awareness about culture of peace
  • Understanding that peace can be addressed without politics
  • Understanding that peace can be a topic of discussion without talking about war or conflict

Conclusion

• After the conference: the level of euphoria had reached its highest. Students have become even more interested in knowing about the so many ways that one can contribute to the forging of a culture of peace towards achieving an everlasting peace. A few students have even decided to pursue the tourism and peace topic in their BBA or MA dissertation research. They have understood that debates about peace and conflict abound, yet to promote peace in a troubled region without talking politics is scant, but possible, desirable, and even successful in reaching hearts and souls deeply.

 

THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD WANT TO CREATE A CULTURE OF PEACE

UNESCO

As defined by the United Nations, the Culture of Peace:

is a set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations… For peace and non-violence to prevail, we need to foster a culture of peace through education.

 

Like many other value-driven tourism and hospitality schools and associations (AHA), The CHN University:

strives to develop tourism and hospitality leaders of tomorrow who have a positive attitude, demonstrate strong work values, lead by example, encourage tolerance, celebrate diversity and promote peace around the world.

 

UNESCO has identified eight action areas to foster a culture of peace; the first one is fostering a culture of peace through education. The Tourism4Peace Forum is a good example of attitudes and behavior inherent in a culture of peace, and a good and successful example to promote a culture of peace in educational institutes, especially that: Tomorrow’s leaders are today’s youth. Their education and participation is key to the world’s future.  

 

 

UNESCO has identified eight action areas to foster a culture of peace, the first one is fostering a culture of peace through education by:

promoting education for all, focusing especially on girls; revising curricula to promote the qualitative values, attitudes and behaviour inherent in a culture of peace; training for conflict prevention and resolution, dialogue, consensus-building and active non-violence . . .

 

 

 

 

There is more to the world of tourism than only selling good feelings. Values play a part, especially in a region as the Middle-East

Ernst Jonker, CHN University

 

 

 

L E V E L   o f   I N T E R E S T

 

 

 

Before the conference

During the conference

End of the conference

After the conference

Low

High

 

The Tourism4Peace Forum conference in Leeuwarden

The concept of the culture of peace, as defined by the UN General Assembly in its

landmark resolution A/53/243, Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of

Peace includes:

1. Culture of peace through education.

2. Sustainable economic and social development.

3. Respect for all human rights.

4. Equality between women and men.

5. Democratic participation.

6. Understanding, tolerance and solidarity.

7. Participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge.

8. International peace and security.

 

 

Investment in youth is the best investment in the future

Academic Director of the European University Center for Peace Studies

 

The CHN conference was divided into two symposia: Students symposium, and destination marketing symposium. The focus of this communication is on the students’ symposium, where students were given a unique opportunity to get face to face with visionary people, listen to their respective stories, and spontaneously ask questions related to the situation in the Middle East with a focus on conflict, peace, and the role of tourism in the region.

 

World’s leaders, meeting at the United Nations in September 2005, which identified the Culture of Peace and Dialogue and Alliance of Civilizations as major priorities for the coming years, have declared that:  Tomorrow’s leaders are today’s youth. Their education and participation is key to the world’s future.

Lectoraat Tourism for Peace
Dr. Omar Moufakkir

This communication features an introduction to the Tourism for Peace Lectoraat, general aims and objectives of the Lectoraat, general tasks and activities, lectoraat work plan concept, activities engaged in, including conferences and accompanying presentations, the peace through tourism seminar, and the publications that are directly related to peace through tourism research. Participation in upcoming conferences, works in progress, as well as communication in press are also included.

The 1st European Conference on Tourism and Peace is organised by the Stenden University’s Tourism and Peace Lectoraat in collaboration with the IIPT, and is hosted by Stenden University in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands on October 21-24, 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. The Conference brings 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.