ICPTR

Dr. Omar Moufakkir, founder
Born in Morocco, Omar Moufakkir did his primary and secondary education in Casablanca, his undergraduate studies in France (B.A. University Paris Xiii Villetaneuse. Degree in English literature and Foreign civilisations -Licence es Lettres. Langues, Literature et Civilisations Etrangeres. Specialite Anglais), graduate studies in the Netherlands (M.A. World, Leisure and Recreation Association (WLRA), International Center of Excellence (WICE), and M.A in International Leisure and Tourism Studies, University of North London/CHN), his Ph.D. in the US (Michigan State University, Michigan. Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources), Taught leisure course at Michigan State University, and worked as a researcher and research project manager at the University’s TTRRC -Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center. He is currently teaching at Stenden University in the Netherlands, serving as research project account manager, and has recently been promoted as Lector in Peace through Tourism. He is a member of the Tourism4Peace Forum, a forum that brings top hospitality and tourism managers from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine to discuss pragmatic strategies on how tourism can help overcome the existing obstacles and contribute to peace in the region.
Dr. Moufakkir is the founding editor of The Journal of Tourism and Peace Research, and co-author of the book Tourism, Progress and Peace. He is currently working on The Comprehensive Immigration-Integration Barometer. Believing that peace is not only the absence of armed conflict, such a research activity can help to mitigate the rising “peacelesnees” attributed to integration disenchantements in Western Europe, by developing enlightened immigration-integration policies (for more visit news&info) .

Mission Statement
We will work towards building bridges out of the walls that keep us apart. The ICPTR’s objective is to conduct academic research to contribute to the development of tourism as an agent of peace.

The ICPTR is the first center to have peace and tourism as a focus of inquiry. We will conduct scientific research projects to empirically assess the myths and realities associated with peace through tourism.

We will continually update our collective knowledge based on matters related to peace through tourism.

We will conduct training sessions and educational programs to facilitate peace through tourism.

We will promote analysis and initiatives that support peace through tourism, by means of research results dissemination and knowledge sharing with the academic community, government, NGOs, and the tourism and hospitality private sectors, and related tourism stakeholders.

We will encourage debate about  the place of tourism within peace and conflict studies, and participate in national and international networks that work on issues related to conflict management.

Ian Kelly: ICPTR senior consultant

Ian was born in Glasgow, Scotland and educated in Scotland, Canada and Australia. A former geographer, he switched to tourism education in 1990, and directed tourism courses at Monash and Swinburne Universities in Australia before retiring in 2000. He maintained involvement with publishing, teaching and research in an adjunct capacity with the University of South Australia until July 2009, and continues to compile the annual Australian Regional Tourism Handbook for the Australian Regional Tourism Network. His research and writings on Peace through Tourism date from 1998, and he was appointed Coordinator of the IIPT Educators Network in 2005. Ian is co-editor of the upcoming book Tourism, Progress and Peace. He is also associate editor of The Journal of Tourism and Peace Research.

Adriaan Kolen: ICPTR immigration specialist
Adriaan joined the research group with an interest in youth ethnic minorities and integration in the Dutch society. Born in Leeuwarden, Fryslân / Netherlands, (1956) Adriaan Kolen developed an interest in intercultural exchange at a young age. As a 17 year old youth he joined the AFS intercultural exchange program, which enables people to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding in a diverse world. Living in California he started a never ending quest for bridging cultural gaps. Next to an intercultural marriage, this led to many activities, privately and professionally. For many years he presided over the local AFS chapter in his home state, thus enabling many others to engage in intercultural experiences all over the world. Becoming an experienced traveller over the years, Adriaan constantly looks for ways to combine his passion and daily routine. A deep rooted interest in languages helped him to achieve teaching degrees in Dutch, German and DSL (Dutch as a second language). The latter enabled him to engage professionally in contacts with adult students from many different cultural backgrounds.

As a policy advisor for his local municipality, he started an integrated policy program for ethnic minority groups.

Engaging in interreligious dialogue was another activity he devoted himself to. This led through the years to many interesting encounters with representatives of worldreligions. In many fields he was able to combine his professional activities with his interest in working with people from different cultural backgrounds. Next to the field of education, Adriaan worked for an agency offering unemployed adults new perspectives on the labourmarket. For the national job-centre he held a staffposition advising on diversity issues. This in turn led to an invitation to work ( as the only male employee) at a government supported foundation for womens emancipation. Here he took up projects to further diversity management , combining his knowledge and contacts in the fields of education, business and non-profit organisations. In one of the dutch refugee-camps Adriaan managed a staff of 14 teachers in a school for adult students.

As a coach and teacher he is currently working at a college to assist teenagers finding their way in vocational studies and connecting to future careers.