The Geneva Summit will bring together senior executives from all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, as well as leaders from related fields including environment, culture and heritage, sport, and economic development.  Selected leaders from these sectors will be featured in a Roundtable discussion focusing on a "Beginning Coordinated Strategy for the role of Travel and Tourism in Poverty Reduction."

Confirmed keynote speakers to date include Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council; Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization; Hon. Richard Gordon, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association; and Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, President, Africa Travel Association.  Also invited are Senior executives of U.N. agencies, development agencies, and the International Labor Organization.  An outline of the Program is attached. 

The Geneva Summit builds on the foundations of three Global Conferences (Vancouver, 1988; Montreal, 1994; Glasgow, 1999); the First Global Summit on Peace through Tourism in Amman, Jordan, November 2000; and the First African Conference on Peace through Tourism earlier this year in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.  We look forward to your joining us in this milestone event of the world's leading industry in gross revenues, the trade of goods and services, investments; and job creation. 

Plenary Sessions

• Tourism's Potential Contribution to Poverty Reduction - Global Perspectives
• Harnessing Travel and Tourism as a Leading Force for Poverty Reduction
• Linkages of Tourism, Culture, Sport and Sustainable Development in Building a Culture of Peace and Reducing Poverty

A "Government - Industry - Donor - NGO Roundtable" with leaders from each of these sectors focusing on "A Beginning Coordinated Strategy for Poverty Reduction through Travel and Tourism."

Concurrent Sessions

• Strategies for Tourism Related Micro-Enterprise Development in Least Developed Countries
• Educating and Capacity Building for Poverty Reduction through Tourism
• Development and Marketing of Destinations Emerging from Conflict
• Educating and Capacity Building for Poverty Reduction
• Youth Travel - A New Generation Building Peace and Sustainable Development
• The Role of Sport in Peace and Development
• Linkages of Tourism, the Arts, Culture, and Heritage in Poverty Reduction

• International Educator's Forum
• Rural and Community Based Tourism Forum
• Spirituality in Tourism Forum
• International Student Forum

• Founding Meeting of IIPT Young Professionals Network
• Meeting of IIPT Coalition of Partners for World Peace through Tourism
• Meetings of Boards of Directors or Executive Committees