Tourism peace for Zambia

Last years conference inaugurated a peace park in Kampala

IIPT and Zambia host joint announcement of 5th African conference

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism, together with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia, will announce the 5th IIPT African Conference at World Travel Market,

The theme of the Conference will be: Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change to Tourism in Africa.

Said the IIPT “All World Travel Market exhibitors and attendees are welcome to join the Hon. Catherine Namugala, MP, Minister of Tourism, Environment, and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia; Louis D’Amore, IIPT founder and president; and other tourism industry leaders to learn more about this milestone event and to share their insights, ideas, and recommendations in this interactive session.”

According to the IIPT “Climate change is a major threat to sustainable growth and development in Africa and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Although Africa is the continent least responsible for climate change, it is particularly vulnerable to the effects. Impacts of climate change include increased incidence of both drought and flooding, desertification, sea level rise, reduced freshwater availability, decreasing fish resources, cyclones, coastal erosion, deforestation, loss of forest quality, woodland degradation, coral bleaching, the spread of malaria, and impacts on food security – all of which have an impact on tourism.”

With the support of the Norwegian government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Zambia has embarked on development of a comprehensive national climate change response strategy. Speaking during the official opening of the National Inception Workshop for the development of the strategy earlier this year, Hon. Catherine Namugala emphasized that “the process of formulating the national climate change response strategy will be based on a broad stakeholder consultation and active participation.”

The World Travel Market participatory session will address how Zambia is responding to the adverse impacts of climate change – and encourage an exchange of views, ideas, and suggestions in exploring the broader tourism implications and challenges for all of Africa and throughout the developing world – in preparation for the 5th IIPT African Conference to be held in Zambia, 2011.

Valere Tjolle

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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1144671.php