Partnership to promote travel beyond leisure

KUCHING: A partnership between Peace Boat and Reliance will promote travel that goes beyond just leisure.

Reliance Travel Group deputy CEO Reuben Gan said the partnership will see how travelling can educate, promote peace, and foster cross- cultural understanding.

“Together, we believe that travel can act as a tool for positive social and political change,” he said in a press statement for the Reliance and Peace Boat Open Ship Event at Boustead Cruise Centre, Port Klang on Tuesday.

“Passengers have the opportunity of a lifetime to be exposed to educational programmes, volunteering opportunities and learning new languages.”

He said upon their return they would “become ambassadors for social change and this creates a positive impact on society”.

Gan said today there are some countries that deny the existence of climate change, or have opened their borders for the fi rst time, or have countries closing theirs and limiting the freedom their people once enjoyed.

“Peace Boat can help people travel and promote social change and in other words, Peace Boat brings the international community together to promote peace, human rights, sustainable development, respect for the environment and eco- friendly tourism,” he said.

Gan said Reliance will promote Peace Boat in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non- governmental and non-profit organisation that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development, and respect for the environment.

It carries out its main activities through a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages.

The ship creates a neutral, mobile space and enables people to engage across borders in dialogue and mutual cooperation at sea and in the ports visited.