Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day as international observance on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the modern world which has millions of people dependent on it for their livelihood. According to the official website of United Nations (UN), tourism sector employs one in every ten people on Earth, and for some countries, it can represent over 20 percent of their GDP.
Traveling brings happiness and joy to people’s life. But, due to this COVID-19 pandemic people are restricted to their homes. They have to wear masks and use hand sanitizers for their safety. This has made their lives more vulnerable.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact. Both developed and developing economies have been hit. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism could result in a more than $4 trillion loss to the global economy and tourism experts do not expect a return to pre-COVID arrival levels until 2023 or later.
History of World Tourism Day:
UNWTO was established on this day in 1980 to create awareness on how tourism affects social-cultural, political and economic values globally and the role of tourism within the international community.
Significance of World Tourism Day:
This day is celebrated to promote tourism and to create awareness about it. “By celebrating this day, we state our commitment that, as tourism grows, the benefits that come will be felt at every level of our broad and diverse sector, from the biggest airline to the smallest family business,” Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO, said in his official message.
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Theme of World Tourism Day:
The theme of the day was "sustainable tourism", in 2017. In 2018 the theme was "Tourism and the Digital Transformation". In 2019 the theme was "Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all" and in 2020 the theme was: "Tourism and Rural Development".
To kickstart the growth and recovery of the tourism sector, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has therefore designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on “Tourism for Inclusive Growth.” It aims to help people associated with the tourism sector in every possible way.
Celebration of World Tourism Day:
There is no public holiday on this day. Government bodies conduct various events and festivities as a part of the celebration. Excellency in the field of tourism is recognized and awarded on this day. Various competitions like photo competitions, street rallies, bicycle parades, essays, and poster competitions are held to reflect the day’s importance.