Uganda President to be Patron of 4th IIPT African Conference

H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President, Republic of Uganda, will formally open the 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism at the newly opened Kampala Serena Hotel and Conference Center, Kampala, Uganda, May 20, 2007. Theme of the Conference is “Building Strategic Alliances for Sustainable Tourism Development, Peace and Reconciliation on the African Continent.”

IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore said: “We are most honored to have President Museveni as Patron of the 4th IIPT African Conference, which promises to be our most exciting and successful African Conference to date. More than 400 delegates from some 50 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean are anticipated to take part in the Conference.”

The aim of the conference is to establish collaborative strategies for sustainable tourism development in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Conference goals are to expand marketing opportunities in Asia, Europe, North America, and the African Continent; broaden awareness of the social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits of tourism; and contribute to reconciliation, peace, wealth creation and poverty reduction throughout the African Continent.

With the participation of Bermuda Premier The Honorable Dr. Ewart F. Brown as a keynote speaker, an additional focus of the conference will be in support of the Africa Diaspora Heritage Trail – a visionary initiative of the Bermuda Government – and the building of long term relationships.

Hosts of the Conference are the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, The Honorable Janat B. Mukwaya, MP, Minister, and The Honorable Serapio Rukundo, Minister of State. The Conference is being organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Bank, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the Africa Travel Association (ATA).

Confirmed Keynote Speakers in addition to Bermuda Premier Hon. Dr. Ewart F. Brown, include Hon. Kabinga Pande, Minister of Tourism Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia; Hon. Prof. Jumanne A. Maghembe Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania; H. E. Mr. Joseph Malwal Dong, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Sudan; S.E. Mme. Aline Koala Ministre de la Culture, des Arts et du Tourisme, Burkina Faso; S.E. Mme. Yvonne Mboissona, Ministre du Tourisme, Central Africa; S.E. Mme. Odette Kayitesi Ministre de l’aménagement du territoire, du tourisme et de l’environnement, Burundi; H.E. Senator Akel Biltaji, Special Advisor to H.M. King Abdulah II, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Dr. Dawid de Villiers, (former) Deputy Secretary General, UN World Tourism Organization; Dr. Demba Ba, Sector Manager, World Bank Group; Sir Janantilal (Andy) Chande KBE, Trustee, Rotary International Foundation; Hon. Renee Webb, (former) Minister of Tourism and Communications, Bermuda; Mr. Birger Bäckman, (former) Director General and currently Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors, United Federation of Travel Agencies Associations; and Anastasia Mann, Chairman and CEO, Corniche Travel Group.

This year’s conference will include the first ever Africa Media Exchange (A-MEx) being organized in partnership with Counterpart International. The Exchange will feature prominent media personalities from Africa, Europe, North America and the Caribbean. The goal of A-MEx is to develop communication strategies – actions – and commitments leading to a more balanced and positive international image of Africa – its lands, its cultures, and its peoples – in regions throughout the world.

www.iipt.org

Valere Tjolle