STOWE, Vermont, USA – HE Akel Biltaji, Mayor of Amman, Jordan, and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities will be a featured panelist at a World Travel Market, XCEL, London, Platinum Suite event of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) – From Conflict to Sustainable Tourism: The Northern Ireland Experience
The IIPT special event on November 4 will highlight the experience of Northern Ireland and other countries that have experienced conflict and their transformation from nations of conflict to sustainable tourism development with the related socio-cultural, economic and political benefits. Emphasis will be given to lessons learned and their application to areas of the world currently experiencing conflict.
Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will open the session with his insights from a global perspective. This will be followed by a panel discussion with Ms. Suzanne Wylie, CEO Belfast City Council; HE Akel Biltaji, Mayor of Amman and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan; Mr. Hiran Cooray, President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka; Director – Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Chairman, Jetwing Hotels Ltd; Amb. Williams Nkurunziza, Rwanda High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; and Mr. Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastian, Spain. Ms. Anita Mendiratta will be Master of Ceremony of the event and Panel Moderator.
IIPT Founder and President, Dr. Louis DโAmore said, โIIPT is most honored to again have Dr. Rifai grace the IIPT Platform together with the distinguished leaders participating in this timely debate.โ He continued, โIIPT will use this special occasion to launch the 30th Anniversary Year of its birth and to announce the IIPT 30th Anniversary Summit in 2016.โ
A reception sponsored by School of Management/Ysgol Reolaeth, Swansea University, Wales will immediately follow, also in Platinum Suite 1, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, November 4. Master of Ceremony for the Reception will be Professor Terry Stevens.