|
|
|
Tourism4Peace commits to ongoing
activities
with the support of
CHN University Netherlands.
|
 |
November 2, 2006
For more information
Contact: Janos Damon
jandamon@netvision.net.il
|
|
Leeuwarden
Holland – This week tourism and travel professionals in
the private sector from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the
Palestinian Authority representing the Peace4Tourism
Forum met at CHN University Netherlands in Leeuwarden to
discuss strengthening international tourism to the
Middle East. The 3 day discussions opened with a keynote
address from American Tourism Society’s (ATS) president
and CEO Michael Stolowitzky where he announced the board
of directors of ATS had unanimously decided to add
Tourism4Peace Forum as a permanent member of the ATS.
Other presentations from each of the 4 regions included
topics that identified the state of tourism in
perspective countries and how each neighboring region
can assist each others countries tourism development and
visibility. |
Sponsored by the CHN University Netherlands and
beginning the 3 day forum with one day in The Hague,
Klaas Wybo van der Hoek, vice president of CHN,
commented; “it is very appropriate that the forum begin
its conference in an area known for its commitment to
peace with the well known The Hague Peace conference
beginnings in the 1890s”.
Rafi Baeri, the executive Vice President of Dan Hotels,
Israel commented that “No borders, no boundaries, no
animosity; just beautiful cultural experiences” was the
number one message the forum was sending to lobby local
government officials in each country. Presentations from
each region were made to the travel trade, University
faculty, students, and to the press and included
information on each of the regions assets as a tourism
destination. All four countries each expressed a warm
welcoming to work with the other regions.
With the concept that tourism has no borders, the Forum
decided to expand activities to motivate authorities of
the importance of tourism and its relationship to peace.
Included in the mandate is professional training,
worldwide visibility through brochures, publicity, a Web
presence and joint marketing activities between the
regions.
About Tourism4Peace Forum:
Tourism4Peace was established in 2005 as an initiative
by the Israel Hotel Managers Association and sponsored
by the Peres Center for Peace. The creation of the Forum
aims to advance peace through tourism by strengthening
dialogue and ties between the regions and the tourism
industry. Offering advanced solutions to mutual
challenges and development of activities to strengthen
economies and peaceful advancement.
About CHN University:
CHN is a professional university which as a member of a
network of partners making a modest but valuable
contribution to society and the world by training an
educating young and in some cases less young people as
“whole” people. A dynamic, top-quality university with
establishments in the Netherlands and outside of Europe
the CHN currently has approximately 7,000 students and
employs some 600 members of staff. The university offers
specialized study programs and commercial services in
the areas of primary education (teacher training) and
care and service management, for both the national and
international market. Web site:
www.chn.nl
|
|
“No borders, no boundaries, no animosity; just beautiful
cultural experiences”
Rafi Baeri, VP Marketing and Sales Dan Hotels Corp. (Israel) |
“Tourism has no
borders”.
Raed S. Saadeh, President, Arab Hotel Association
(Palestine
Authority) |
“The most important thing about peace is hope”.
Elhamy ElZayat, Chairman and
CEO EMECO Travel (Egypt) |
“Tourism is key to improving relations with other countries”. Michael
Nazzal, Chairman of the Board,
Jordan Hotel Association |
 |
“It is very appropriate that the forum begin its conference in
an area known for its commitment to peace with the well known
The Hague Peace conference beginnings in the 1890s”.
Klaas Wybo van der Hoek, Vice President of CHN. |
“Peace is too important to leave up to the Politicians”.
Michael Stolowizky, President and CEO, American Tourism Society
(USA)
|
“Tourism is hospitality, welcoming strangers, getting to know
people, developing friendships”.
Janos
Damon, Executive Director, Israel Hotel Managers
Association
(Israel)
|
“We can support this initiative with our masters and
bachelor degrees by having students do research to benefit the
region”.
Robert Veenstra,
Chairperson CHN>
|
|
|
|
|
|
