Guide to Peace and Tourism

Dear Colleagues

There are quite a few people who believe that one of the key aspects to promoting increased peace and understanding in the world is through facilitating positive interaction between individuals and communities from diverse backgrounds. The assumption is by learning about each other's cultures, languages, lives, that people can do discover what they have in common, as well as explore their differences and possibly build long-term friendships that can have a positive impact on the world.

In recent years, there has been increasing discussion about the role of peace tourism, as well as voluntourism (where individuals visit other countries and engage in community service projects in addition to seeing the sights), and eco-tourism (trying to minimize the impact on the environment).

As with any activity, travel has both potentially negative and positive impacts. The negative impacts include significant environmental impacts through plane and other high-carbon forms of travel, destruction of local environments, sometimes contributing to exploitation of locals who are not treated fairly in the service economy, lack of respect for local traditions and cultures and more. On the other hand tourism conducted in partnership, that seeks to develop a sustainable form of economic development, minimizes negative environmental impacts and facilitates true learning and exchange between cultures can have a life-long impact.

There are a number of organizations and initiatives that are working on the issues of peace and tourism, ranging from policy focused institutions, organizations focused on the environment and others on connecting travelers around the world.

Here are a few key organizations (feel free to suggest others. Note a listing here doesn't provide an endorsement, we are only providing information on relevant resources).

COUCHSURFING- is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding. CouchSurfing's initial focus was on hosting and 'surfing' (staying with a local as a guest in their home). Alongside these core experiences, we now also facilitate a growing array of activities and events.

SERVAS is an international, non-governmental, multicultural peace association run by volunteers in over 100 countries. Founded in 1949 as a peace movement, Servas International is a non-profit organization working to build understanding, tolerance and world peace. We operate through a network of Servas hosts around the world who are interested in opening their doors to travellers , and of Servas travellers who want to get to know the heart of the countries they visit.

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world. It is based on a vision of the world's largest industry, travel and tourism - becoming the world's first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveler is potentially an "Ambassador for Peace. A primary goal of IIPT is to mobilize the travel and tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction.

VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE - Our goal is to work toward a more peaceful world through the promotion of International Voluntary Service (IVS) projects, historically known as International Workcamps, and the exchange of volunteers. Our projects provide intercultural education through community service. We offer placement in over 3000 IVS projects in more than 100 countries each year, including over 40 in the USA. At each project, volunteers from diverse backgrounds, typically from four or more countries, work and live together like a family. The sharing of everyday life, both with the local community and among the international volunteers, is an integral part of the learning and serving experience. Most projects are open to volunteers with any type of background and do not require any specific professional or language skills.

GLOBAL EXCHANGE - REALITY TOURS - We envision a people centered globalization that values the rights of workers and the health of the planet; that prioritizes international collaboration as central to ensuring peace; and that aims to create a local, green economy designed to embrace the diversity of our communities. The idea that travel can be educational, fun, and positively influence international affairs motivated the first Global Exchange Reality Tours. Our tours provide individuals the opportunity to understand issues beyond what is communicated by the mass media and gain a new vantage point from which to view and affect US foreign policy. Travelers are linked with activists and organizations from around the globe who are working toward positive change. We also hope to prompt participants to examine related issues in their own communities.

Two new companies that are not directly related to peace but provide an interesting opportunity for anyone around the world to host someone and earn funds, and for travelers to find innovative places to stay for travelers are:

WIMDU - is the central platform for all types of private accommodation and unites travellers with hosts around the world. The platform offers a diverse selection of unique accommodation all over the world Anybody can offer their flat, house or even a room in a shared flat to travellers. The host benefits from additional income and provides travellers with a completely new perspective on the holiday destination.

AIRBNB- We connect people who have space to spare with those who are looking for a place to stay. Guests can build real connections with their hosts, gain access to distinctive spaces, and immerse themselves in the culture of their destinations. Whether it's an urban apartment or countryside castle, Airbnb makes it effortless to showcase your space to an audience of millions, and to find the right space at any price point, anywhere.

Tags: Environment, Guide, Impact, Peace, Resources, Service Learning, Tourism

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Comment by Muriithi Pius on October 28, 2011 at 5:36am: Peace tourism has been ringing in my head for a long time. Together with a group of friends in Kenya we registered Shangingi (maasai for girl) Expeditions geared towards promoting social tourism. I later became a founding board member for xchangeperspectives international (East Africa); a NGO interested in promoting community media. The two institutions believe that transfer of knowledge, skills and attitude (behavioral change) is increased with increased contact between communicating persons and it enhances what is received through other media. We promote voluntourism to further cultural integration. During the safaris we hold community dialogues on various issues such as; reproductive health for girls/youth (distribute free sanitary pads to girls in selected schools, discuss HIV/AIDS and distribute condoms in cattle camps) and organize cultural events Dance and music in the evening - people from different culture get chance to show case their culture. Volunteers also get chance to stay over night with selected families and boarding schools. You can get me on muriithipius@yahoo.com)

Comment by Anita on August 15, 2011 at 11:48am: Thanks for this post, quite related to this topic I'd like to inform you of the Peace Revolution Fellowship in Thailand, we have various opportunities for youth interested in peace education and development, and travel to Thailand. Questions and feedback are welcome,

http://www.peacerevolution.net/docs/en/peace-revolution-fellowship

Comment by Danielle SERRES on July 29, 2011 at 3:58pm: As a SERVAS member, I just had a wonderful trip to the US West Coast, meeting great people and sharing their experiences along the road. A great way to travel with a purpose !

Comment by Julius Atanawhemera on July 29, 2011 at 3:04pm: This is extremely good to know! shall take at advantage of it some day.

Regards,

Julius.

Comment by Khanal Madhav Raj on July 29, 2011 at 10:46am: I am very Grateful to have this information. We are fully hopeful and confidence to start develop Peace and tourism project as an effective project in Nepal. So we would like to have kind guidelines to our ENRUDEC and some our sisters organization in Nepal. We would also like to invite to above mentioned organization for kind cooperation, co-ordination and consideration with networking support in these regards. Also asking to help and join in our Volunteer development projects and program.

http://www.freewebs.com/enrudec

Comment by Marcus Bauer on May 6, 2010 at 2:16pm: Thanks for this article picking up a very important issue.
Please have a look at the group "Peace and Tourism" (http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/group/tourismandpeace) It was started to collect examples of :
* How does tourism contribute to peace building?
* How does conflict affect tourism development?
* How does tourism breed conflict situations?

If you have any contributions and experiences on that, please share them.

Comment by Christoph Damalie on April 11, 2010 at 11:02pm: I am very glad that this message is catching up that we can promote peaceful coexistence through Tourism.
Our organization Thirdway Human Rights and Development is attempting to use tourism as a tool to promote Human rights and development.
We need your support in any way possible. See http:// www.third-way.org
Or contact info@third-way.org

Thank you

Comment by Paul Ogalo on April 11, 2010 at 5:32pm: I appreciate this information. We have also young organization called CREATA struggling to promote peace and social justice through exchange and cultural dialogue. Currently we are interested on partners who are interested in coming to East Africa to work with us. You can find more information through www.creata.or.ke

Comment by Alonso Munoz on April 9, 2010 at 7:11pm: Ecotourism is the fastest growing segment of the world’s largest industry, offering the promise for sustainable development in communities around the globe. Yet this potential is threatened by those who claim to do ecotourism but don’t really live up to its standards. The U.N.-mandated University for Peace’s Centre for Executive Education is offering the course: ‘Ecotourism: How to start, grow and manage your own eco-enterprise’ from August 8 - 15 in Costa Rica. This workshop, combining classroom sessions with field visits to study successful businesses, provides a unique opportunity to learn how to do ecotourism right in the country that defined the concept. For more info., see: (http://www.centre.upeace.org/index.php/courses/111-Ecotourism )

Comment by Saifora Khan on April 8, 2010 at 6:59am: The other one is the 'World learning", An organization partnered with the state department that arranged our visit to USA from Afghanistan. I was in the USA from feb13-March 8th and it was a state department funded visit. But the Organizers were the world learning. A very cherished and organized visit which was properly managed.

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