GFDD and FUNGLODE Attend World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development

Representatives of numerous governments, NGOs, academia and the private sector gathered in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil to exchange experiences and to discuss their proposals on how to ensure that growth in the tourism industry contributes
to the creation of conditions for peace and sustainable development across the globe.

In 2003, the tourism industry generated US $3.5 trillion, comprising 10% of the World GDP. Tourism also accounts for 10% of all investments made worldwide and creates one in every ten jobs on the
planet.

This first annual forum was the beginning of a long-term initiative that was launched by President Luíz Inacio Lula da Silva in November, 2003 in Brazilia. The following forum is scheduled to take place next year in Rio de
Janeiro, and henceforth in other locations around the world on a yearly basis.

Mr. Sergio Foguel, President of the Tourism for Peace and Sustainable Development Foundation articulated that “In its essence, the forum is a pact for a cause
– to achieve the tourism industry’s potential for positive transformation. As one of the largest economic activities in the world, tourism has the power to positively affect life as well as contemporary challenges at multiple levels. It can significantly impact income and job creation, which makes it an indispensable tool in the battle against poverty. It is up to the task of promoting development that is environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable. At the same time, it is capable
of contributing to the generation of peace, friendship and understanding between different peoples."

UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi A. Annan, sent a message to the
participants of the forum expressing his support for the initiative. He stated that he hoped that through this inititiative, people from distinct parts of the world would be able to develop a deeper understanding of each other, and that the call for environmental protection would be heard.

In addition to WTO, key partners of the initiative include UNESCO, the UNDP, the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, and the Insituto de Hospitalidade in Brazil.

The forum was
inaugurated by President Luíz Inacio Lula da Silva who expressed his deep commitment to its objectives.

During the first three days of the event, numerous plenary and parallel sessions were held in which experts and practitioners shared and evaluated their on-going and proposed
projects. All speakers, panelists and discussants stressed tourism’s capacity to promote sustainable development, cultural and<