His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President, Republic of Uganda will declare the week of the 4th IIPT African Conference, May 20 to 25, “National Peace through Tourism Week.” President Museveni will personally officiate at the Conference Opening Ceremony as Patron of the Conference. Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry is host of the Conference being organized in support of the U.N. Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The President’s “Proclamation of National Peace through Tourism Week” will highlight the fact that Travel and Tourism is a worldwide social and cultural phenomenon engaging peoples of all nations as hosts and guests, and as such is one of humanity’s truly global activities. Further, that as the world’s largest industry - generating one in every eleven jobs - contributes to wealth creation and sustainable economic development which fosters peace.

National Peace through Tourism Week will feature public events aimed at creating increased awareness to the importance of tourism to the continued and sustained socio-economic development of Uganda – and its key role in fostering international understanding among peoples of the world.

Center-piece of National Peace through Tourism Week will be the 4th IIPT African Conference, being organized in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization, World Bank, United Nations Environment Program, and Africa Travel Association, and bringing together leaders of the industry from countries throughout Africa as well as Europe, North America and the Caribbean.

Theme of the Conference is: “Building Strategic Alliances for Sustainable Tourism Development, Peace and Reconciliation on the African Continent.”

Conference goals are to identify new markets in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Caribbean; facilitate product development and investment opportunities; broaden awareness - and commitment, to the social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits of tourism; continue “Building Bridges of Tourism, Friendship and Collaboration,” and contribute to reconciliation, peace, and sustained wealth creation on the African continent.