At the beginning of February, the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) and Folk Ensemble Lindjo from Dubrovnik, Croatia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim to promote peace, mutual understanding, and collaboration among nations of the world.

The cooperation between FE Lindjo and the IIPT holds great importance for the development of cultural exchange and re-ignition of cultural connections in the South Eastern European region, with a view to enhance harmonious relations, as well as protection of cultural heritage.

The memorandum is also considered to represent the foundations to a future Institute of Folk Culture for South Eastern Europe. Signatories of this memorandum have faith that such an organization could be initiated at the hopefully forthcoming 1st IIPT South Eastern European Summit, which would be held in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a long-term partner and supporter of IIPT.

FE Lindjo and the IIPT aim to cooperate and support one another in their respective activities and initiatives, which include enhancing cultures, valuing heritage, and promoting peace. Together, they intend to harness tourism and culture as contributors to sustainable development in the South Eastern European region and promote collaboration among those two sectors, working towards a contribution to reconciliation and healing wounds of conflict.

The memorandum was signed by the Director of FE Lindjo, Mrs. Dubravka Saric, and the Director for Events and Development, Ms. Sneshka Richter, on behalf of the IIPT. Herewith, FE Lindjo has become an honorary IIPT Ambassador for Peace. The signing took place at the Hotel Lero in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The friendship and positive cooperation between the IIPT and FE Lindjo was conceived at the 1st UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media, held mid-September 2011 in Zagreb, Croatia, which was also attended by the Founder and President of the IIPT, Mr. Louis D’Amore.

On this occasion, Mr. D’Amore and Ms. Richter have also made an official visit to the National Park Plitvice Lakes, where they have discussed the potential of the National Park being dedicated as an IIPT Peace Park, with the aim to enhance awareness of a community’s commitment to peace and a healthy environment, as well as providing a place of reflection on our connectedness to one another as a global family and to the Earth of which we are all a part.