Prasenjit Chakraborty - Mumbai The Thai Consulate in Mumbai and the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) organised an event “Promoting Peace Through Tourism” on September 21 in Mumbai.
The event witnessed the presence of consuls general and eminent personalities from the travel trade. It highlighted how tourism can be a harbinger of peace in the world. Additionally, it showcased Thai cuisine and offered many fun activities, including a lucky draw for a round-trip ticket to Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also played an important role to make the occasion a grand success.
Speaking on the occasion, Donnawit Poolsawat, Consul General of Thailand in Mumbai, stated, “We are in the 21st century, and advancements in technology and progress in social media should have made the world a better place to live in. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Conflict, mistrust, and misunderstanding still exist in our world, which is undesirable. Tourism can play a significant role in addressing the issues we currently face.”
The Consul General also expressed profound gratitude for the participation, stating that the event effectively highlighted the positive impact of tourism in promoting global peace.
While speaking to media, Ajay Prakash, Global President of the IIPT, highlighted that the organisation, founded in 1986 by Dr. Louis D’Amore, operates as a non-profit. Prakash succeeded Dr. D’Amore as Global President last year. He noted that the International Day of Peace (IDP) is celebrated worldwide on September 21, as designated by the UN General Assembly to promote peace.
“Most people are familiar with International Tourism Day on September 27, and interestingly, this year’s theme also focuses on tourism and peace,” Prakash remarked.
According to him, “It is implied that you need peace for tourism to be successful. Conversely, tourism can also serve as a tool for peace, which is not easily understood. That is the mission of IIPT.” Prakash further noted that travel and tourism contribute 10% of global GDP, and the industry has the potential to become the first global peace industry. “What is even more profound is that every traveller is potentially an ambassador of peace,” he pointed out. He emphasized that tourism is a harbinger of peace and, citing the example of Kashmir, highlighted the remarkable difference in the region’s socio-economic conditions. “It is tourism that defeats terrorism,” he stated.
Justifying the choice of Thailand as a partner for the event, Prakash remarked that the country welcomes everyone, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or colour. “This makes it an ideal partner for collaboration,” he stated.
