World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27 September, with celebrations led by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. For some countries, contributes to over 20 per cent of their GDP.
It was at its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979), that the UNWTO General Assembly decided to institute World Tourism Day, commencing in the year 1980 to foster awareness among the global community of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution the sector can make in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the first World Tourism Day
This year–2020 World Tourism Day is being marked virtually owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with the theme of “Tourism and Rural Development” that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world. It is celebrated with the great interest by the various tourism enterprises, organizations, government agencies and etc.
Tourism is a lifeline, but however, the industry is among those worst-affected due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Tourism has suffered enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic and safe restart of tourism is essential,” said the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and added that “Some 120 million jobs are at risk. The impacts could lead to the loss of between 1.5 and 2.8 per cent of the global GDP. This will particularly affect the most vulnerable countries, where tourism can represent between 30 and 80 per cent of exports.”
In this most challenging year, let us focus on tourism’s importance for people living in rural areas, so we can deliver on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, Guterres added.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has said that “Tourism helps rural communities hold onto their unique natural and cultural heritage, supporting conservation projects, including those safeguarding endangered species, lost traditions or flavours.”
For many rural communities, tourism is a great means of an opportunity that provides jobs and economic empowerment, protect and promote their natural surroundings, as well as their culture and heritage by allowing tourists to enjoy unique experiences.
Restrictions on travel and a drop in consumer demand have led to an unprecedented fall in international tourism numbers, which in turn have led to economic loss and the loss of jobs. The UNWTO recommendations on tourism and rural development aim to support governments at various levels, as well as the private sector and the international community in developing tourism in rural territories in a way that contributes to inclusive, sustainable and resilient development.
“Tourism allows people to experience some of the world’s cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity,” says United Nations.
For the first time in the 40-year history of World Tourism Day, the official celebration will not be hosted by a single Member State of the United Nations. Instead, nations from the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile joining with observer status) will serve as joint hosts.
“This co-hosting agreement exemplifies the spirit of international solidarity which UNWTO has recognized as essential for recovery. Cross-border cooperation reflects the current need for international solidarity and cooperation. This is especially true for tourism, working together towards a common goal,” UN said in a statement.
After months of isolation and living in quarantine, people want to travel as it is most the leisure activity that missed the most by almost all Thus, the research has showed that “When will international travel resume?”, “When will it be safe to travel again?” and “When can we travel again?” is the most question being asked by all everywhere.
Where do travelers want to go right now? Heading to the beach and visiting rural areas or small towns are top of the list, particularly for Italians and the Dutch.
The tourism industry relies on historical data to predict future demand. But in the current highly-volatile environment, this is no longer adequate.
While this World Tourism Day marks a uniquely challenging period for tourism, it’s also an opportunity to prepare and find new ways to engage with would-be travellers. Remain optimistic about the travel industry’s future, and about the role that can play to help it recover.
