As an island nation in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese are well aware of the importance of the tourism industry. Tourism is an important economic value for our region.

Tourism, besides being a prosperous industry for our economic growth and for the creation of job opportunities, is also an effective means to build meaningful relationships, and has a long-term potential to create sustainable peace and prosperity.

It is also a competent means for cultural diplomacy, as it transforms and expands people's perceptions, while giving them the opportunity of a new understanding of different cultures.

Tourism has the potential to develop the much-needed respect towards one another. The potential of our connections and friendships, which tourism brings between peoples grows. Through tourism, we are therefore capable of initiating processes of befriending, which have positive effects on entire communities and societies.

I believe that friendship and hospitality must go hand-in-hand. Together, they nurture a sense of acceptance, of sharing, and of connection, which are important milestones on our journey towards building sustainable peace. Tourism reminds us of the most fundamental values, of togetherness and respect, which underpin our humanity.

Tourism has the power to make us aware of our enriching diversity. In an increasingly globalised world, tourism provides opportunities for social solidarity, community empowerment, and potential peace building. Opportunities for such processes of positive development, especially within our Mediterranean Region, have never been more essential.

For this reason, I must commend the work of Tony Zahra and Andrew Agius Muscat, and MHRA, together with their collaborators, for their vision in setting up the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation, which is so effectively promoting the goal of peace and prosperity in our region.

Since the Foundation was established in 2013, it has shared a compelling vision of togetherness by uniting people from the Mediterranean and beyond in a common pursuit for peace and prosperity through tourism. This vision is now being taken to the next level, with a Memorandum of Understanding, signed last week, between the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation and the Union for the Mediterranean.

Nations on both shores of the Mediterranean Sea have, many a time, experienced situations of economic precarity, social upheaval, and conflict. However, it is equally true that our Mediterranean region is one of the most ancient, diverse, and beautiful parts of the world.

The Mediterranean brings together different continents and cultures, and creates the potential for a positive space in which dialogue, cooperation, and prosperity can flourish. I believe we must seize this opportunity to ensure that tourism in our Mediterranean region maximises its potential as a catalyst for the promotion of peace and prosperity.

Tourism provides an attractive common ground, where multiple stakeholders work together in synergy, while also attracting visitors and investment, from all over the world. Tourism also benefits from its inherent flexibility, and can achieve this goal through a variety of initiatives, some of which take place across the cultural, entertainment, and sports sectors.

I am convinced that through the efforts of the hospitality industry and all stakeholders working within the tourism industry, it is possible for the private sector to play a powerful role, contributing to global peace.

Furthermore, when we talk about the role of tourism as a factor in achieving sustainable and holistic peace, we must also promote the participation of women in the sector. Women bring their own particular skills and abilities, which can directly nurture processes of peace and prosperity within their communities and across society.

For this reason, I shall be facilitating a Master Class on Women in Leadership in Tourism, focusing on the role that women play as peace-builders at the upcoming Mediterranean Tourism Forum 2018, which takes place next month.

All collaborators in the tourism and hospitality industry, both women and men, have the capacity to take our efforts in the tourism sector to the next level by sustaining dialogue, by building peace, and by creating prosperity.

As tourism grows and the sector flourishes, a whole host of opportunities and skills open up to our people. Some of these opportunities include language-learning, business skills, and hospitality training, which become key components to develop a more competent, diversified, and competitive workforce.

I am certain that the lives of countless individuals and families, and their communities and businesses, stand to benefit from increased awareness and added investment in the peace-building potential of tourism.

Mrs Coleiro Preca is President of Malta