New research uncovered a definitive link between open and sustainable tourism and lower levels of conflict and violence. Even as we hear news reports daily about terrorism and conflict that make the world seem like a dangerous place, there are plenty of safe places to travel. And there seems to be a tie between peaceful, stable countries and well-developed travel sectors. “Travel and tourism’s economic impact is now well established and widely recognised, and governments around the world are increasingly looking to the sector to provide livelihoods and jobs,” said David Scowsill, World Travel and Tourism Council. “However, the benefits of tourism as a force for good, its ability to bring peace, security, and understanding have been harder to quantify … this research now shows that travel and tourism does have a strong link to creating peaceful societies.” The research also showed that if a country is suddenly thrown into conflict, a well-developed travel industry meant it was less likely to suffer overall. The study looked at 158 countries and dived into topics like corruption, relations with neighboring countries, government functionality and sustainability. Perhaps, the study muses, travel exposes other people to diverse cultures, thereby increasing tolerance. “A sustainable tourism sector means a higher level of positive peace,” the report said, “namely, the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.”