World Tourism Day (27/09)

World Tourism Day was established by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO (The World Tourism Organization, UNWTO) in 1979 in the Spanish city of Torremolinos and is celebrated annually on September 27. This date was chosen due to the fact that on this day in 1970 the Charter of the World Tourism Organization was adopted.

The purpose of the holiday is to promote tourism, highlight its contribution to the economy of the world community, and develop ties between the peoples of different countries. It is intended to draw the attention of the international community to the importance of tourism and its social, cultural and economic significance.

This is a holiday for everyone who has at least once felt like a traveler, getting out of the everyday bustle of everyday life onto the river bank, into the forest, into the fields or to other places that planet Earth is so rich in! And, of course, this is a holiday for those directly involved in the tourism business: employees of travel companies, museum workers, managers and staff of hotel complexes — for everyone who professionally provides a comfortable and safe holiday.

Over the past half century, tourism has become one of the fastest growing and most important sectors of the economy in the world, and for some countries tourism is even the main source of income for the state budget. It employs every tenth person on Earth. This area provides livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. In some countries, tourism accounts for more than 20 percent of GDP.

The tourism sector has shown resilience and even growth in the early 21st century, despite challenges such as the global economic crisis, natural disasters and epidemics. In addition, the emergence of new tourism-related technologies and lower transport prices have led to an increase in the number of international trips.

However, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism sector has become one of the most affected sectors of the economy of many countries. Travel restrictions and a sudden drop in consumer demand led to an unprecedented decline in international tourism, which in turn had a detrimental effect on the economy as a whole and led to large-scale job losses. In addition, declining tourism revenues have reduced funding for biodiversity conservation activities.

But tourism is gradually resuming, and in some regions the number of international tourist arrivals has already reached or even exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The lifting of remaining travel restrictions, along with increased consumer confidence, will be important factors in the sector's recovery, giving hope and opportunity to many millions of people around the world.

Like any activity, tourism has a strong impact on the economy, society and the environment in developing countries and especially in host countries. In addition to the socio-economic impacts of tourism, the sector, if managed sustainably, can be a factor in environmental conservation, cultural acceptance and understanding among peoples.

Therefore, recognizing the importance of international tourism in promoting better understanding among peoples, leading to increased awareness of the rich heritage of different civilizations and a better understanding of the values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the consolidation of peace on the planet, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for development.

Tourism can be a factor in preserving the environment, cultural recognition and understanding between peoples (Photo: Tyler Olson, licensed by Shutterstock.com)

The holiday has been celebrated in most countries of the world for more than 30 years. Every year it is dedicated to a specific topic, which is proclaimed by the World Tourism Organization. Among the mottos of the Day were: «Tourism's contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage, to universal peace and mutual understanding», «Tourism and quality of life», «Best in travel: good guests and good hosts», «Tourism — vitality for world peace», «Free movement of tourists creates a new world», «Communication, information and education: defining directions of tourism development», «Tourism development and environmental protection: towards lasting harmony», «Tourism — factor of tolerance and peace», «Technology and nature: two difficult tasks for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century», «Ecotourism — key to sustainable development», «Travel and transport: from the imagination of Jules Verne to the reality of the 21st century», «Tourism and water resources: protecting our common future», «One billion tourists — one billion opportunities», «Tourism for all — encouraging universal tourism accessibility», «Sustainable tourism — development tool», «Tourism and its transformation in the digital space», «Tourism and rural development», «Tourism for inclusive growth», «Rethinking tourism», «Tourism and green investment» and others.

Traditionally, on this day there are tourist rallies, festive events and festivals dedicated to tourism and the tourism business. Every year, UNWTO invites people of all ages and professions to spend and participate in the Day celebrations in their own country or vacation destination.

Interestingly, the world's first travel agency was opened in 1841 by Thomas Cook.



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