Olympic Peace Process given boost by UNWTO and European Commission

One of the behind-the-scenes outcomes of the prestigious Hungarian Presidency conference on Responsible Tourism held in Budapest last week was the support of London 2012 Olympic Peace through Tourism Process given by the UNWTO Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai. Writes Valere Tjolle from Budapest

From now on, we understand, Gordon Sillence, the Campaign co-ordinator, will report directly to Dr Rifai on the progress of the Olympic peace through tourism initiative. The 16 day period of peace – based on ancient Greek tradition  – is officially recognized by the UN and the International Olympic Committee.

Importantly, it is also mentioned in the Millennium Declaration as a means of achieving the Millennium Goals. Peace during the Games would have  a major  positive impact on the global economy and society  – conflict and poverty are intricately linked, as are peace and sustainable development processes.

The object is for the global tourism industry to get involved with an initiative for The London 2012 Olympic Peace Campaign to seek to create a time of local and international peace during the Games, with safe passage for travellers in all parts of the world. 

Gordon has been  building a campaign team and support network from tourism stakeholders which includes Vision on Sustainable Tourism.  He is calling for all tourism stakeholders to get behind their governments and back public declarations, country by country, that peace and free passage will prevail during the Games in August 2012. These top down political actions can be accompanied by bottom up stakeholder and citizen actions, such as travel agents for Olympic peace, dancers for Olympic peace, etc

In building a common vision of what could happen next year, the Olympic Peace Campaign calls for  a One Minute Silence for Global Peace  at the Olympic opening ceremony to mark and honour the state of global peace on earth, and to remember those places and people who may have not been able to achieve the 16 day truce. 

Gordon will focus on developing a Youth for Olympic Peace  Campaign in which one teenager from each of the 40 plus conflict zone where the UN is active is sponsored to attend the Olympics as youth peace ambassadors, and share the camaradie and support of the world for those days.
The main focus of the tourism sector contribution to this campaign will be the Responsible & Sustainable  Tourism Business & Destination Support Travel Initiative – showcasing community-based responsible and sustainable tourism best practice offers next to a country’s Olympic icons. Responsible tourism can be targeted at the poorest nations of Earth to give a boost for local communities to benefit from global tourism opportunities for economic, cultural and environmental recovery.

Vision will be running the VISTAS Peace through Tourism Award – a national award to highlight those countries which works most towards to Peace .  The rallying call is now out for tourism stakeholders to play a key part in making the peace and all its benefits a reality.

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You can find further information on the campaign in the DestiNet Protal at
destinet.eu/topics/sustainable-consumption-and-production/peace-through-tourism

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite – special offers HERE