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A new tourism offering to Iran aims to to build bridges of peace, culture and understanding between Iran and the Western World.

World Peace Tours to Iran: A Persian Journey, an effort by the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT), offers Americans the chance to visit and experience ancient, 9000-year old civilization while immersing into its rich culture and welcoming spirit of its local people. The IIPT is hoping to develop a mutual understanding between the people of Iran and the United States.

“IIPT is pleased to launch its Persian Journey tours,” said IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore. “We recognize Iran’s historical significance as a civilization – and the importance of building bridges of understanding between our cultures.”

D’Amore, who founded the IIPT as en effort to foster and promote tourism as a means to develop global understanding and improve environmental conditions around the world, has recently visited Iran at the invitation of the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Travelers become “Ambassadors of Peace”

The two 11-day tours are in-line with the IIPT’s mission of “making travel and tourism the world’s first global peace industry.” According to the IIPT and contrary to what mainstream ideas may be of the region, Iran is a country rich in history and culture, while its people are welcoming and eager to greet visitors to their country.

IIPT believes visitors to Iran will find the country rich in history, vibrant in culture, and warm in hospitality with Iranians eager to meet and welcome them to Iran.

“There is no warmer welcome for Americans anywhere than in Iran,” said Donald King, IIPT Ambassador at Large. Donald has already led several tour excursions to Iran. “A tour of Iran offers an American the opportunity to experience a richness of culture and history that is unsurpassed.”

A Persian Journey

The first tour is schedule for Sept 22-Oct 2, 2009 and will be led by Louis D’Amore. The second tour is scheduled for October 6-16, 2009 and will be led by Donald King.

Both tours have identical itineraries and will nagivate Iran’s ancient and modern civilization showcased at its three main cities: Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan. The tours will visit the treasure trove of museums in Tehran, magnificent ruins of Persepolis and grandeurs of the old city of Isfahan. The spectacular sightseeing will also be complimented by off the beaten track excursions such as an evening visiting nomads, sipping tea along the bridges overlooking the scenic Zayandeh River or exploring the myriad of bustling bazaars.

The Persian Journey tours are being organized with the cooperation and assistance of the American Society of Travel Agents.

For more information on these tours, visit www.iipt.org.