IIPT Founder and President Louis D'Amore Delivers Keynote at First International Community Tourism Retreat in Kingston

IIPT is dedicated to ‘making travel and tourism the world’s first global peace industry’ – and to promoting the belief that ‘every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.’

The conference which will examine the business of community tourism has attracted a number of local and international delegates and gets underway on Friday, June 20 with the official opening reception at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

According to Diana McIntyre-Pike, IIPT Caribbean President&Coordinator of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, “I am pleased Mr. D’Amore, who will also serve as patron, has accepted the invitation to be our keynote speaker. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about travel and tourism having conducted numerous research and consulting projects for North American governments and corporations through his consulting firm, and more recently has launched several pioneering initiatives as founder and president of IIPT.”

Since founding IIPT in 1986, Mr. D’Amore has organized three Global Conferences on Peace and Sustainability through Tourism: Vancouver (1988), Montreal (1994), and Glasgow (1999). He has also organized three Global Summits: Amman (2000), Geneva (2003); Pattaya, Thailand (2005); and four African Conferences on Peace through Tourism: South Africa (2002); Tanzania (2003); Zambia (2005); Kampala, Uganda (May 2007) and a series of smaller conferences and symposia in various regions of the world - all to promote the concept of ‘Peace and Sustainability through Tourism.’

Director of Tourism Basil Smith noted that JTB is pleased to be associated with such an event which demonstrates what can be achieved through tourism and partnership. “Community Tourism ties in perfectly with the Minister’s new vision for tourism in Jamaica which seeks to place people at the centre,” noted the Tourism Director.

Registration for the IIPT Community Tourism Retreat can be made at www.visitjamaica.com/communitytourism or by contacting Danielle Cunningham at consec@cct-jamaica.com or Diana McIntyre-Pike at countrystyletourism@yahoo.com.

About the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism
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. The IIPT is working in partnership with the following Jamaican organizations - the Jamaica Hotel&Tourist Association (JHTA), the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, Positive Tourism Network, Sustainable Communities Foundation, HEART Trust/NTA, UWI Hospitality&Tourism Institute, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Jamaica Trade&Invest, Pragma Consultants, University of Technology, Heather Little-White&Associates, Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust, Panos Caribbean, Charles Town Maroons, Walkerswood, Trench Town, Authentic Caribbean Holidays Ltd and other community partners.

About the Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Tourist and Convention Bureau by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for 2006 and 2007, while Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote as the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination.

JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com, or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422).

For more information on IIPT please visit: www.iipt.org; Tel: 802 253.2658; Fax: 802 253.2645; Email: info@iipt.org Media Contact: Karen Hoffman, The Bradford Group. Tel: 212 447.0027; Email: iiptmedia@aol.com