Industry leaders and managers along with academics make up the speakers line up for the Australia Chapter of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism’s third Australian Conference, Saturday, 15 July 2006, at the Avillion Hotel Sydney. Based on the conference theme, Tourism – Agent for Peace? discussion will revolve around an examination of four identified ‘Agents for Peace.’

IIPT’s founder and president, US-based Louis D’Amore, will lead the discussion, with AFTA CEO, Mike Hatton, as the keynote speaker. The four ‘Agents for Peace’ to be examined are Travel industry principals and agents, Industry organizations and government bodies, Tourists and travellers and Host communities.

Speakers include industry representatives: Jaquie Preketes, Touchdown Tours; Georgina Pickers, travel agent; Dr David Beirman; Richard Cunningham, World Expeditions; Matt McDonell, Wagga Wagga City Council and Trevor Lake, Discover Asia; plus academics: Mia Nahm, Kenvale College of Tourism and Hospitality Management; Dr Deborah Edwards, UTS Sydney; Garth Lean, PhD candidate UWS and Ian Kelly, University of South Australia.

Dr Lynda Blanchard, coordinator of the University of Sydney’s graduate ‘Peace Through Tourism’ Winter School program will chair an interactive session with a panel of students from this year’s course. This unit of study was offered for the first time last year – all places for this year’s July 13-19 course have already been filled.

Dr Larry Dwyer, Qantas Professor of Travel and Tourism Economics, School of Economics University of NSW, will chair the last session “Where to from Here?”

Conference sponsors are Qantas Airlines, Avillion Hotel Sydney, Australian Pinnacle Tours, Touchdown Tours and Intrepid Travel. The conference is endorsed by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

IIPT Australia president, Daphne Lowe Kelley, has issued a challenge to the Australian travel and tourism industry to be a world leader in building a culture of peace through tourism and to serve at a higher level.