This World Tourism Day, we’re shining a light on the powerful connection between tourism and peace. As the director of TRC Tourism and owner/operator of Horizon Tours, Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana is a respected figure in sustainable tourism, dedicated to healing divides, fostering dialogue, and building resilient, united communities. In celebration of #WTD2024, we’re highlighting her incredible efforts to promote peace and reconciliation through tourism.

“Reconciliation is a journey, and tourism can be a powerful part of that journey by promoting understanding and healing.”

Kylie’s philosophy is simple yet profound: “tourism is not just a business, it is a tool to connect people, place and stories.” She is dedicated to empowering Indigenous voices and ensuring that tourism development is guided by the principles of culture, environment, and community. By integrating local knowledge and cultural heritage into her projects, she creates a bridge between tradition and progress, ensuring that tourism remains a tool for unity and respect.

Tourism, often celebrated for its economic impact, also holds immense power as an instrument for peace. Kylies’ leadership at the Indigenous Ways Forum under the World Trails Network exemplifies this, as she brings together trail managers, indigenous leaders, and community stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue about how trails can become pathways for peaceful coexistence. This approach creates opportunities for trails to serve as catalysts for healing and mutual respect, allowing visitors to experience the cultural significance of these landscapes in ways that promote lifelong learning and transformation. By ensuring Indigenous voices lead the conversation, Kylie’s work demonstrates how respectful, co-designed trail experiences can build bridges between people, supporting reconciliation and fostering peace on a global scale.

“Trails are more than paths – they are vehicles for healing, connecting, and fostering deep intercultural understanding.”

Through Horizon Tours, Kylie brings her passion for reconciliation into action, offering visitors immersive, culturally enriching experiences. Whether it’s the Southern Skies Stargazing tour, where guests can learn about Māori’s connection to the stars, or the Taste of Dunedin tours that showcases local flavours and Māori history.

As a hands-on guide, Kylie personally leads many of the tours sharing her knowledge of the land’s cultural and environmental significance. Her belief that tourism should benefit communities holistically – socially, culturally, environmentally, and economically – is evident in every aspect of Horizon Tours.

“Tourism is about connecting people and place, and the stories that connect the two”

#WTD2024 #WorldTourismDay2024