Mid-East violence puts pressure on Peace Through Tourism conference

A well-meaning conference next month to promote peace in the Middle East by getting Israeli and Arab hoteliers to work with one another has an even tougher task after renewed outbreaks of violence in Gaza.

The Peace Through Tourism summit in Amman, Jordan, from 8-11 November is scheduled to be addressed by former Israeli prime minister, Shimon Peres, among others.

The summit is to be held shortly before what would have been the birthday of the late King Hussein, with organisers saying it would "honour the monarch's legacy as a peacemaker in the Middle East and his commitment to expanding tourism to the region as a means of building a lasting peace".

Mîvenpick Hotels & Resorts is a sponsor of the event, which has been organised by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism. Arab and Israeli delegates are among the 500 top executives who have agreed to attend.

The aim of the event was to generate global awareness of the benefits of tourism and its potential to contribute to a climate of peace. But, given the recent fighting, summit organisers appear to have been speaking too soon when they remarked that, "The prospects for international peace and security seem brighter than ever."