Nobel Prize Urged for Tourism
Lelei LeLaulu, president of the non-profit Counterpart Intermational organization called on the Nobel Peace Prize comité which convenes in Norway, to seriously consider how tourism prevents conflict and maintains peace.

Speaking to reporters about the recent Global Ecotourism conference held in Norway in May, LeLaulu confirmed his call for the Nobel Peace Prize to recognize the linkages between sustainable tourism and peace and noted "tourism is the only real peace dividend."

"Think of the millions of have-nots who have died violently trying to get, or to defend, resources for themselves and their families," he added.

He urged Norway to focus its development priorities onto helping poorer countries build tourism infrastructures which enable visitor revenues to enhance the health, wealth, culture and environment of destinations - "the essential elements of peace."

Noting the UN World Tourism Organization was forecasting a billion annual arrivals in just four years, LeLaulu said poorer countries "had the most desirable destinations but needed help to ensure tourism revenues could benefit local people."

Norway and the richer countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are home to the world's richest travelers and LeLaulu opined that "most of them would visit a less than luxurious destination, at least once in their lifetime, if they thought their visit would help preserve, or foster, peace".

Counterpart International is a nonprofit organizations based in the United States, which declares its dedication to building a just world through service and partnership. Founded in 1965 by Elizabeth and Bryant Silverstein and an Australian Marist Missionary priest Stanley Hosie as “Foundation of the People of the South Pacific”.