Special US hostage envoy to be keynote speaker at ATTA

Bill Richardson will address the potential for peace through adventure tourism

Governor Bill Richardson will be the featured closing keynote speaker at the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) Adventure Travel World Summit on October 20, 2011, in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

Known for his work as a diplomat and special envoy on sensitive missions to win the release of hostages, American servicemen and prisoners in North Korea, Iraq, Cuba and Sudan, Richardson has recently founded the Richardson Peace Institute which will train government entities in peacekeeping and hostage negotiations.

“Throughout my travels in the effort of diplomacy worldwide, it has become clear that connecting on a basis of a sense of place can be a lynchpin for creating peace,” said Governor Bill Richardson, who served as Governor of New Mexico between 2002 and 2010. “To truly make progress in any business, understanding of local cultural heritage and possessing a sense of adventure is paramount.”

For the ATTA’s World Summit, Richardson will address the potential for peace through the development of adventure tourism. An avid outdoorsman, Richardson was known during his tenure as Governor as for his horsemanship and as a keen marksman. Combined with his embrace of all things Western, his progressive policies on clean energy, the development of a powerful film industry, and other issues such as education and health care made him one of the state’s most popular Governors.

“Increasingly, adventure tourism is attracting the attention of prominent leaders worldwide because it brings tangible benefits in the form of positive economic impact, conservation and improved cultural awareness and understanding,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “Governor Richardson’s inspirational message of peace through tourism is expected to have profound impact on the deeper human potential of adventure tourism.”

“Throughout my travels in the effort of diplomacy worldwide, it has become clear that connecting on a basis of a sense of place can be a lynchpin for creating peace.”
Governor Richardson will be speaking during the closing events on the final evening of the Chiapas Summit. Raised in Mexico City, Richardson will be addressing the group in both English and Spanish.

Chiapas was chosen for the preferred Summit location by ATTA due to its partnership orientation as well as the destination’s readiness and willingness to press forward on progressive adventure tourism development. Additionally, Chiapas was identified as having potential benefits to the local tourism economy and the ATTA’s members worldwide.

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is the editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite latest special offer HERE