IIPT Declares 2018 ‘Year of Peace and community tourism’

The International Institute of Peace through Tourism and Countrystyle Community Tourism has declared 2018 International Year of Community Tourism and Peace

Diana McIntyre-Pike (left), president and founder of Countrystyle Community Tourism Network and Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus shake hands after signing the formal agreement between both organizations to expand the training of persons in community tourism in Jamaica and across the Caribbean over the next two years.

Louis D’Amore, founder and president of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), has designated 2018 the IIPT International Year of Community Tourism and Peace in collaboration with Countrystyle Villages as Businesses.

In 1994, the IIPT branded Jamaica ‘The Home of Community Tourism’ in recognition of the two pioneers of the community tourism brand and programmes, Diana McIntyre-Pike, founder and president of Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, and her late business partner, Desmond Henry from Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

In 2013, the IIPT welcomed the Caribbean region to join as partners. The Caribbean was then also branded ‘Home of Community Tourism’.

The IIPT International Year of Community Tourism and Peace will mark the 40th anniversary of community tourism, which Country-style/Villages as Businesses began in Jamaica.

Celebrations in Jamaica will begin on January 1 with a gospel concert in Apple Valley Park, Maggotty, St Elizabeth, and will continue at the 15th Annual Resource UNIA-ACL Marcus Garvey Fair in Cross Keys, Manchester, on February 25.

The 2018 IIPT International Year of Community Tourism and Peace will also commemorate IIPT’s 30th anniversary.

In August 2018, the IIPT will hold its global summit in Montreal, Canada, under the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism for Development and Peace’.

The summit will bring together delegates from some 50 countries and feature success stories and models of best practices from different regions of the world.

The IIPT International Year of Community Tourism and Peace will build towards the first Villages as Businesses Conference and Trade Show, to be held in Jamaica in December 2018.

This first-of-its-kind event will be hosted by IIPT Caribbean in partnership with the IIPT International Community Tourism Network, UWI Open Campus and other local and international organisations.

The IIPT International Community Tourism Network will be coordinating the 2018 celebrations and has encouraged communities worldwide to launch sustainable community tourism projects and events for development and peace in their countries and to join in celebrating the year.

Source Jamaica Gleaner http://jamaica-gleaner.com/

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle

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