Greece Sets Up Tourism Body for Peace and Prosperity through Sport

Greece’s Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios and Lebanon’s Tourism Minister Avedis  Guidanian sign the foundational document for the establishment of ISTO for P&P.

A newly set-up goodwill organization aiming to promote peace and understanding through the values of sport and hospitality will be headquartered in Greece, the tourism ministry announced this week.

An initiative of Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, the International Sports  and Tourism Organization for Peace & Prosperity (ISTO for P&P), aims – with sport and tourism as a vehicle – to bring people closer and foster cooperation, respect and tolerance in the true spirit of the Olympic Games, Democracy and the Olympic Truce, all of which were born in Greece.

The foundational document was signed in Beirut, by the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Lebanon, George Katrougalos, Nikos Christodoulides, and Gebran Bassil, Kountoura, her Lebanese counterpart Avedis Guidanian and Cyprus Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios.

It will be the first body of international reach established in Greece, and will act as a bridge for cooperation between nations and peoples, defending peace, sustainable development, economic progress and social cohesion.

ISTO for P&P is supported by Dho Young-shim, chairperson of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation, and former UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai.

Once the set-up procedures are completed, the body will seek United Nations recognition.