Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the United Nations World Tourism Organization were adopted. 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.
World Tourism Day is celebrated by events around the themes selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly, on the recommendation of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Executive Council.
While United Nations World Tourism Organization invites people of all ages and backgrounds to hold and take part in celebrations in their respective country or holiday destination. Official World Tourism Day celebrations take place in a United Nations World Tourism Organization Member State, on the basis of geographic rotation.
This year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) draws special attention to the role of tourism in contributing to one of the building blocks of a more sustainable future for all: Community development. With the special focus on the community, World Tourism Day, 2014 highlights how tourism can be conducive to advancing sustainable development from the grassroots level.
The consolidation of tourism’s economic influence has built up its social responsibility and political relevance. Tourism thus becomes a catalyst of social cohesion, going beyond the immediate impact of job creation and its positive economic consequences and enhances local governance capabilities which multiply the tourism impact even further.
This year’s official celebrations will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico and include a high-level Think Tank on the 2014 theme with the participation of tourism Ministers, international experts and policy makers in the field of tourism and development.
