In 1979, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) proclaimed September 27 as World Tourism Day to mark the anniversary of the adoption of its Statutes. Held by the UN for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017.
The declaration of this day took place in Torremolinos (Spain). The date is also considered appropriate because it coincides with the end of the peak vacation season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the beginning in the southern half.
Why is World Tourism Day celebrated?
Tourism is an industry that has been on the rise in recent years. More and more people venture to visit faraway places and integrate with the local people, discovering new cultures and new landscapes.
Travel has become a pleasure to which millions of people around the world aspire: adventurers eager for new goals, travelers in search of new experiences, photographers, and in general, any person on foot.
The growth has been such that it has gone from 25 million trips in 1950 to 1.3 billion today. Income from tourism has grown from 2,000 million dollars to 1,260 billion. An exponential growth.
The reasons for this increase in travelers worldwide are varied. We could name some of the most important ones:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized the right to vacation for all workers.
- Improved working conditions in many countries.
- The middle class has increased in the world.
- Transportation has become cheaper.
- The use of new technologies makes travel information more accessible.
- The tourism sector has diversified greatly in the 21st century, precisely because of this growth, and agencies specialize in adventure travel, photography, relaxation, beaches, and others.
Ensuring Sustainable Tourism
Also due to this growth, it is important to raise awareness of the need for sustainable tourism, which brings long-term benefits to countries and communities, helping development. The latest World Tourism Day celebrations have focused precisely on sustainable tourism, with the slogan “Travel, enjoy, respect”.
Problems in some places due to the increase in tourists
In some large cities, tourism poses new challenges, since at certain times of high occupancy, the situation becomes complicated and many local residents complain about the problems caused by the lack of tourism regulation in this regard.
In addition, the low quality of certain tourist profiles harms not only local residents but also the image of an entire country, as may be the case of so-called “binge tourism” in certain parts of Spain.
Tourism also causes problems in the most emblematic mountains on the planet, such as Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, or Everest, causing real bottlenecks that have sometimes led to fatal accidents.
All this should make us reflect on the importance of establishing a basis for the sustainability of tourism worldwide.
2022: Rethinking Tourism
Each year, World Tourism Day focuses on a theme or slogan to work on. In 2022, the campaign is: “Rethink Tourism”.
In 2022, tourism and travel have exceeded expectations. The end of restrictions in many countries and increased consumer confidence are important factors for the sector to grow faster than expected.
In May 2022, the UN General Assembly held a special debate on Tourism, as the sector is considered a fundamental pillar of development and growth, and is on the agenda of all governments and international organizations.
Moreover, tourism is adapting to the climate crisis. That is why more than 450 organizations have signed the Glasgow Declaration, a document that includes a series of commitments to accelerate climate action in the field of tourism.
Slogans from previous years
2021:Tourism for inclusive growth
World Tourism Day 2021 is a day to focus on the slogan: Tourism for Inclusive Growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a colossal setback for all sectors but has impacted Tourism the most.
The revival of Tourism will help drive growth and social recovery but it is essential that the benefits are distributed equitably, broadly, and fairly so that they can reach the most disadvantaged sections of society.
2020: Tourism and Rural Development
In 2020, the emphasis is on the capacity of tourism to create opportunities, not only in large cities but also in rural areas, with the aim of protecting the natural and cultural heritage, while creating employment where it is most needed.
The COVID-19 crisis was a challenge for Tourism. We all know that the tourism sector is one of the sectors that has suffered the most since the coronavirus pandemic in the world, due to the limitations in mobility and the decrease in consumption, in addition to the economic crisis that has been unleashed throughout the world. No country has been spared.
As a result of the decline in tourism, many young people have lost their jobs and a large number of businesses have closed down. Biodiversity has been affected as protection programs have been cut back due to lack of funding and there are fears of increased hunting and looting in protected areas.
These are negative data, but they may represent an opportunity to rethink the future of tourism so that it can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
And also, why not, the values of Tourism can help us to overcome the pandemic and the world crisis that has been unleashed?
Tourism for the Sustainable Development Goals
Tourism is directly related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. It contributes in particular to the achievement of Goals 8 (decent work and economic growth), 12 (responsible production and consumption), and 14 (underwater life).
To achieve these goals, the Tourism4SDGs platform has been created, on whose website you can share resources and initiatives that help sustainable tourism.
International Year of Sustainable Tourism
The UNWTO proclaimed 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, recognizing the importance of international tourism and promoting better understanding among the peoples of the world, raising awareness of the rich heritage of diverse civilizations and the inherent values of diverse cultures, thus contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world. Travel for understanding and, ultimately, peace.
How to celebrate International Tourism Day?
The best way to celebrate International Tourism Day is to take a trip to a place you want to visit, either by car if it is close by, or by plane. Organize a good trip, there is a lot of information on the Internet.
If you are not good at organizing it, you can also go to a travel agency, where professionals in the tourism sector will help you make a trip to your needs.
And if for the moment you can not have a few days to travel, make your reflection or share on social networks images of that place where you would like to go, with the tags #WTD2022 #WorldTourismDay #TravelEnjoyRespect.
Source: Dia Internacional De