Your industry can bring peace, says Tony Blair

Your industry can bring peace, says Tony Blair
By admin


Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has hailed the benefits of travel and tourism, arguing it can bridge cultural divides and ultimately contribute to “peace and security” across the world.

Speaking at the inaugural World Travel and Tourism Council Asia Summit in Seoul yesterday, Blair declared that travel can not only bring prosperity to countries but an understanding of “how other people tick”.

A lack of knowledge is a fundamental problem in today’s fractured world, he said.

“Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds conflict,” Blair told delegates. “The need for people to cooperate and understand each other across the cultural and faith divide has never been stronger. We need to know each other.”

Travel and tourism can achieve that aim by educating travellers about different cultures but also highlighting the commonality between people, he told industry leaders.

“The industry you represent can genuinely help not just to bring about more commerce and prosperity but more peace, security and understanding.”

Blair, who admitted he has a greater understanding of travel and tourism now than when he was in office, told the WTTC not simply to tell governments about the GDP benefits of the industry but how it can “open up a country in other ways”.

“The future belongs to what I call the open minded,” Blair continued. “The key divide for me is between the open and close minded, those who see globalisation as an opportunity and those who see it as a threat. Those who are prepared to open up to different cultures and those who want to shut down in the face of it. That is why travel and tourism is so important.” 

Later, Blair recalled how winning the Olympics was among the rare moments of "joy" during his tenure as PM.

But he warned Tokyo, which has just won the right to host the 2020 Games, that it was "one day of joy, and seven years of agony".

Blair also revealed how a question about the Olympics drew his most insincere answer as a politician..

"I was asked by a journalist 'does the fact that Britain beat the French make this victory any sweeter for you'. And I said no, not at all.

"I'm sure it would have been the same the other way round."

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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