It was February 10, 2005 during the third International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia, when Juergen Steinmetz, Alain St.Ange, and Prof. Geoffrey Lipman, hosted by Louis D’Amore and the Ministers of Tourism for Zambia and Zimbabwe in the presence of the African Travel Association announced the launch of the new International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).
“Zambia will always have a special place for ICTP,” said ICTP Chairman Juergen Steinmetz today.
“Therefore, one of the founding members, the Zambia Tourism Board, under the leadership of Felix Chaila, is playing an important role in our organization.”
Felix Chaila, Managing Director of the Zambia Tourism Board, at the time welcomed ICTP. He said:
“Welcome to Zambia!
“The land of the legendary African walking safari, Victoria Falls, the wild Zambezi River, abundant wildlife, and raw wilderness, all in one friendly country.
“Blessed with awe-inspiring natural wonders, an abundance of wildlife, huge water bodies, and vast open spaces, Zambia offers unforgettable holidays exploring the real Africa.
“Acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world to visit, Zambia’s welcoming people live in peace and harmony. And here, in the warm heart of Africa, you will find some of the finest safari experiences on the planet, including face-to-face encounters with nature at its most wild.
“Spectacular waterways provide adrenaline thrills or a leisurely playground of activities for all ages. Seventeen magnificent waterfalls, apart from the spectacular Victoria Falls, provide ‘cascade followers’ an adventure into the remote undeveloped rural areas where a taste of village life can be experienced.
“Spectacular daily sunsets are almost guaranteed.”
In the meantime, among ICTP’s active members in Zambia is RETOSA, the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa; Bantu Pathfinders, a destination management company; and the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute Lusaka, Zambia, a higher education school specializing in tourism education in Zambia whose mission is: “To provide quality training in applied arts, sciences and commerce to local and international students in order to fulfill requirements of the labor market.” The vision is: “To be a leading tourism and hospitality training Institute in Southern Africa by 2030.” The goal is to: “To provide superior market responsive training, upgrade and expand infrastructure and facilities in order to contribute, and the Post Newspaper in Livingstone.”
The International Coalition of Tourism Partners is a coalition of tourism destinations and their stakeholders in 135 countries with headquarters in Hawaii, Brussels, Seychelles, and Bali. The Coalition believes in GREEN GROWTH + QUALITY = BUSINESS.
There is always a complimentary option to join ICTP. For more information, click here.
See ICTP’s extensive list of members, click here.
PHOTO: Felix Chaila, Managing Director of the Zambia Tourism Board
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