Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The hours of operation of historical points of interest and museums are signi
cant and should be
arranged to provide access for visitors at convenient times. Admittance fees to museums and points of
historical interest should be kept as low as possible to encourage maximum attendance. Promotion is
necessary, and tourist contact organizations such as chambers of commerce, tourist information
of
ces, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other businesses should have available literature that describes
the point of interest, hours, admittance fees, special events, and any other information needed by the
tourist to visit this historical attraction.
Some notable examples of museums include the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, the National
Museum of Anthropology at Mexico City, the American Museum of Natural History of New York City,
the various branches of the British Museum in London, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and the various
museums of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
Other types of historical preservation are national historic parks and monuments and national
parks with a history or prehistory theme, such as Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Another type is
the
farms in Iowa and Illinois.
Among the most outstanding innovations in the presentation of history are the
''
living history
''
''
programs found mainly in Europe, the Mediterranean countries, and Mexico. A series of loudspeakers,
broadcasting recorded voices in several languages with sound effects, tell the history of an unusually
signi
cant structure or place. Varying lights intensify the effect and focus the attention of the audience
on various parts of the location.
At the Forum in Rome, Italy, the history of Rome is presented at night in half a dozen languages.
Visitors can hear the voices of the emperors and the crackling
flames as Rome burns. At the pyramids
of Teotihuacan, about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, famous actors relate the history of the area
in another sound-and-light presentation given in Spanish- and English-language versions. Egypt offers
similar programs at its ancient monuments.
''
sound-and-light
TOURISM AND PEACE
Tourism is believed to have a positive effect on
. When people travel from place to place
with a sincere desire to learn more about their global neighbors, knowledge and understanding grow.
Then, at least a start has been made in improving world communication, which seems so important in
building bridges of mutual appreciation, respect, and friendship.
world peace
Tourism: A Vital Force for Peace
Since its founding in 1986, the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) has sponsored a
series of global conferences, summits, round tables, and seminars that seek to
''
build a culture of peace
through tourism.
''
In October 1988, the inaugural conference on the theme
''
Tourism: A Vital Force for
Peace
was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Some 500 delegates from 65 countries
attended. The purpose of the conference was to explore ways in which the world
''
s hundreds of
millions of international travelers could, by increasing interests, improving attitudes, and engaging in
various social and other activities, contribute to better mutual
'
understanding
and
appreciation
—
an
important contribution toward world peace.
The conference provided a forum to examine tourism and its many dimensions as a force for peace.
It brought recognition that tourism has the potential to be the largest peacetime movement in the
history of humankind because tourism involves people: their culture, economy, traditions, heritage,
and religion. Tourism provides the contacts that make understanding possible among peoples and
cultures. The conference clearly demonstrated that tourism has the potential to make the world a
better place in which to live.
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