There are so many reasons to love the fall season, leaf-peeping train journeys bursting with colours, nutty pumpkin spice lattes and of course, the annual United Nations World Tourism Day 2024 celebrations. Every year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) chooses a theme to address certain travel-related issues and opportunities in the tourism industry — with a broader aim to raise awareness about the importance of travel and tourism, fostering sustainable economic growth, promoting cultural exchange, and encouraging global understanding.
In a press announcement, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations explained how the tourism industry can impact each category, stating, “Sustainable tourism can transform communities — creating jobs, fostering inclusion and strengthening local economies. By valuing and preserving cultural and natural heritage, it can help reduce tensions and nurture peaceful coexistence. Tourism can also promote economic interdependence between neighbours, encouraging cooperation and peaceful development,” He added, “At the same time, tourism broadens horizons. Every traveller can be an ambassador, engaging respectfully with local populations, recognising our diversity and shared humanity, and the values that unite us all.”
When is World Tourism Day celebrated?
Since 1980, September 27 has been celebrated as World Tourism Day. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, which eventually led to the formation of UN Tourism 5 years later.
You can spread the word about World Tourism Day 2024 or use #WTD24 to show the world how you travel on social media. If your organisation or home country is holding a themed event, you can share it with UNWTO here.
‘Tourism and Peace’
Ahead of the celebration this year, the UN announced “Tourism and Peace” as the overarching theme around the observance. Emphasising the connection and co-dependency between ‘tourism’ and ‘peace’, the day is all set to “highlight the vital role of this sector in fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation processes.”
The last couple of years have witnessed (and we continue to experience) socio-economic turmoil from conflicts, civil unrest and military action around the world. From the 2023 Israel–Hamas war to a humanitarian crisis in war-stricken Sudan, several countries found themselves breaking under regional and international conflicts. In the current scenario, it has become important and necessary to use the communal power of tourism and initiate efforts to make the world a safer place for future generations.
Which country is hosting World Tourism Day 2024?
This year, the official World Tourism Day 2024 conference and event will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, venturing way beyond Washington DC, which has been the home city for the last few years. “By bringing together stakeholders from across sectors and disciplines, the conference aims to generate innovative ideas, strategies, and collaborations to harness the transformative power of tourism in building bridges, fostering dialogue and promoting peace and reconciliation,” read the concept note issued by UN Tourism.
From a keynote speech by Guatemala’s minister for tourism Harris Whitbeck to architecture and wine tours that’ll take guests on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, you can find the full schedule for the 3-day event from September 26 to 28 on the UN Tourism website.
History of World Tourism Day
It was during the third session of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Torremolinos, Spain, when World Tourism Day was conceptualised, a date specifically chosen to pay an ode to the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Tourism Statutes on September 27, 1970. Beyond its historical importance, this day also marks the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere, and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere.
With a history spanning over 40 years, every year the the UNWTO General Assembly chooses a country to partner with for World Tourism Day, which offers the destination an opportunity to showcase itself under the international spotlight. With Tbilisi officiating the event in 2024, other countries that previously played host are Riyadh in Saudi Arabia (2023), Bali in Indonesia (2022), Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa (2021) and more.
Join the official celebration in the transcontinental country of Georgia on September 27 or learn more about how to spread the word here.
(Feature image credit: Urban Vintage/Unsplash)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Written By
Sneha Chakraborty
Sneha Chakraborty is a journalist and photographer covering how travel intersects with food, culture, ..Read More
