Since 1980, the United Nations
World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day as international
observances 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. The theme of the day was "sustainable tourism", in 2017. In 2018 the theme was "Tourism and the Digital Transformation" and in 2019 the theme was "Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all".
Celebration
In the history of 40 years, the
official celebration of World Tourism Day will not be conducted by a single
member state of the United Nations specialized agency. Instead, nations from
the MERCOSUR member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile
joining as member associate status) will be the joint hosts.
This is being done to exemplify
the spirit of international unity that is imbibed in tourism. UNWTO has
recognised it as significant.
Significance
As said by the UNWTO
Secretary-General, tourism empowers rural communities, providing jobs and
opportunities, most notably for women and youth all around the world.
Tourism is one of the major
sources of income for the people living in the rural world as it helps them to
hold onto their unique cultural heritage and traditions, and at the same time
acts as an auxiliary in safeguarding habitat and endangered species.
Quotes
The traveler sees what he sees,
the tourist sees what he has come to see—Gilbert K. Chesterton
See the world. It's more fantastic
than any dream—Ray Bradbury
Only the traveling is good which
reveals to me the value of home and enables me to enjoy it better—Henry David
Thoreau
We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls—Anais Nin