UNWTO Conference: Tourism – A Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation Passikudah, Sri Lanka, 11 to 14 July 2016

The report of the UNWTO/SLTDA Conference: Tourism – A Catalyst for Tourism Development, Peace and Reconciliation, held in Passikudah, Sri Lanka, 11 – 14 July 2016, summarizes the four major themes discussed during the event: the close links between tourism, peace and reconciliation; the position and contribution of local communities in the development of “peace sensitive tourism”; the potential of public-private partnerships with small and medium-sized enterprises in the development of tourism in areas recovering from conflict; and marketing and re-branding of post-conflict destinations. The conference gathered over 150 participants from 26 countries of whom half were foreign delegates. Tourism development, peace and reconciliation is a subject of national interest to Sri Lanka and of global importance to UNWTO