2001 Nicosia, Cyprus

Originally scheduled to take place in Israel, the 9th WFTGA Convention was held in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 28 January to 2 February 2001. Under the theme “The 21st Century: Guiding for Peace” it attracted participants from eighteen countries.

The Convention was organised and hosted by the Cyprus Tourist Guide Association. After the painful joint decision by the WFTGA Board and the Israel Tour Guides Association to cancel the Convention in Israel, the Cypriot organisers had only two months to prepare the event, and they performed a miracle. Participants enjoyed a perfectly organised, smooth-running Convention and the legendary hospitality of the “island of Aphrodite”.

Lectures and workshops

The keynote speaker, Dr Noel Brown, President of the Friends of the United Nations, gave two eloquent presentations: “Tourism: A New World of Opportunity for Human Prosperity, Solidarity and Peace” and “Tourism and the Environment: Partner for a Sustainable Future”. Dr James Fleming, Director of the Biblical Resources Study Centre Jerusalem, captured the participants’ attention with “The Common Roots of Judaism, Christianity and Islam” and gave valuable advice on cross-cultural guiding in his workshop “Interfaith, Peace and Justice: Sensitivities in Guiding”.

Participants learned much about the history of the host country, future plans for the city of Nicosia, mosaic making, and guiding and ethics. A partially wobbly experience was Deborah Androus’ workshop “Yoga on Tour”. Have you ever tried being a tree? Stand on one leg and keep your balance, it is as easy as that! As balance is the first thing to go as we grow older, Deborah’s “yoga tree” deserves a place in everybody’s daily routine.