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. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970. The timing of World Tourism Day is particularly appropriate in that it comes at the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere.

FORUM: World Tourism Day 2020 - “Tourism and Rural Development”.

The 2020 edition of World Tourism Day, with the theme of “Tourism and Rural Development”, will celebrate the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world. This year’s international day of observation comes at a critical moment, as countries around the world look to tourism to drive recovery, including in rural communities where the sector is a leading employer and economic pillar providing jobs and opportunity, most notably for women and youth. Development through tourism can also keep rural communities alive. It is estimated that by 2050, 68% of the world population will live in urban areas, while 80% of those currently living in ‘extreme poverty’ live outside of towns and cities.

MEET THE WTD 2020 HOSTS

For the first time in the history of World Tourism Day, the 2020 official celebration will be hosted by a group of countries and not a single UNWTO Member State. The cross-border cooperation of the MERCOSUR Member States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, plus Chile, Member Associate) reflects the current need for international solidarity and cooperation. This is especially true for tourism, working together towards a common goal.

Statement by Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General on World Tourim Day 2020; September 27th.

For the past 40 years, World Tourism Day has highlighted the power of tourism to touch on almost every part of our societies. Right now, this message is more important than ever. The theme of World Tourism Day 2020 - Tourism and Rural Development - is particularly relevant as we face up to an unprecedented crisis.

Tourism has proven to be a lifeline for many rural communities. However, its true force still needs to be fully deployed. The sector is not just a leading source of employment, particularly for women and youth. It also provides opportunities for territorial cohesion and socio-economic inclusion for the most vulnerable regions.

Tourism helps rural communities hold onto their unique natural and cultural heritage, supporting conservation projects, including those safeguarding endangered species, lost traditions or flavours.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. Our sector is among the hardest hit with millions of jobs at risk. As we join forces to restart tourism, we must live up to our responsibility to ensure that tourism’s benefits are shared by all. This crisis is an opportunity to rethink the tourism sector and its contribution to the people and planet; an opportunity to build back better towards a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism.

Placing rural development at the heart of tourism policies through education, investment, innovation and technology can transform the livelihoods of millions, preserve our environment and our culture. As the ultimate cross-cutting sector, tourism contributes directly or indirectly to all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Harnessing tourism as a driver of rural development will keep the global community on track to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our ambitious plan for people and planet.

As we mark the 75 years of the United Nations, it is time to really fulfil tourism’s massive potential, including its unique ability to drive development for rural communities, backing up our pledge to leave nobody behind.

HAPPY WORLD TOURISM DAY!

Statement by the U.N. Secretary General on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27th.

In the 40 years since the very first World Tourism Day, much has changed. Demand for travel has soared. The world has opened up, allowing more people than ever to explore the globe and its different cultures.

Today, tourism is firmly established in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an engine for advancing prosperity, protecting our planet and laying the foundations for peace and understanding among peoples.

Many millions of people around the world rely on tourism for income, especially women and young people. People who might otherwise have been left behind have found decent work and the chance of a better life thanks to tourism’s unique potential.

Tourism has suffered enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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, including Small Island Developing States, the Least Developed Countries and many African nations, where tourism can represent between 30 and 80 per cent of exports.

As we look to recover from this profound crisis, the safe restart of tourism is essential, not least for rural development – the focus of this year’s World Tourism Day. We have an unprecedented opportunity to transform the relationship of the tourism sector with people, nature, the climate and the economy. We must ensure a fair distribution of its benefits and advance the transition to a carbon-neutral and resilient tourism economy,

As well as providing opportunities for people, tourism can play an important role in preserving our unique and shared cultures and protecting the biodiversity and the ecosystems that sustain us.

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 to leave nobody behind.

Others Statement.

• Message from Uruguay by the Hon. Mr. Germán Cardoso Ferreira, Minister of Tourism on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27.

• Message from Argentina by the Hon. Mr. Matías Lammens, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Nation on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27.

• Message from - Brazil by the Hon. Mr. Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, Minister of Tourism on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27

• Message from Paraguay by the H.E. Ms. Sofía Montiel, Minister and Executive Secretary on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27

• Message from Chile by the Hon. Mr. José Luis Uriarte, Undersecretary of Tourism on World Tourism Day 2020; September 27

Events: Celebrations by the global tourism community on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2020 Events.

Resources:

• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• TOURISM DASHBOARD

• UNWTO ACADEMY

• TOURISM 4 SDGS

News:

1. 1. INNOVATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT TAKES CENTER STAGE FOR MINISTERS’ SUMMIT AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET

   2. UNWTO ALLIES WITH SPAIN TO FACE THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE

   3. 3RD UNWTO GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON WINE TOURISM

   4. INTERNATIONAL RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – AN ASIA-PACIFIC PERSPECTIVE

   5. TOURISM’S ROLE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS AFRICA HIGHLIGHTED AT UNWTO FORUM EVENT AT FITUR 2020

PAST COMMEMORATIONS:

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2019

Tourism is a major source of employment because of its labour-intensive nature and the significant multiplier effect on employment in related sectors. It is estimated that one job in the core tourism sector creates about one-and-a-half additional or indirect jobs in the tourism-related economy. Overall tourism accounts for one in ten jobs worldwide.

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2019: TOURISM AND JOBS: A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2018

Harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda

SUSTAINABILITY & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN TOURISM

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2017

As the United Nations General Assembly affirmed when announcing the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, tourism can contribute to all the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – and each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Not only does the sector spearhead growth, it also improves the quality of people’s lives.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR DEVELOPMENT 2017

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2016

Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or later, we all benefit of universal accessibility in tourism.

PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2015: 1 BILLION TOURISTS 1 BILLION OPPORTUNITIES

1 BILLION TOURISTS 1 BILLION OPPORTUNITIES

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2014

WTD 2014 has been celebrated around the world under the theme Tourism and Community Development - focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.

TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2013: TOURISM AND WATER: PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE

In support of United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 was held under the theme Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future.

TOURISM AND WATER: PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2012: TOURISM & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: POWERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Tourism, one of the world’s largest economic sectors, has already taken important steps towards this future – improving energy efficiency and increasingly using renewable energy technologies in its operations. These steps are creating jobs, lifting people out of poverty and helping to protect the planet.

POWERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

World Tourism Day 2010 - China

Tourism and Biodiversity

World Tourism Day 2009 - Ghana

Tourism - Celebrating Diversity

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2008: TOURISM

RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2007

World Tourism Day 2007 (WTD 2007) took place in Bentota, Sri Lanka under the theme Tourism Opens Doors for Women in support of UN’s 3rd Millennium Development Goal: Promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

TOURISM OPENS DOORS FOR WOMEN

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2006

Every year the United Nations designates special days to commemorate particular events or activities. September 27th is the day on which we celebrate the phenomenon that is Tourism.

TOURISM ENRICHES

WTD 2005 - Qatar - Travel and transport: from the imaginary of Jules Verne to the reality of the 21st century

WTD 2004 - Malaysia - Sport and tourism: two living forces for mutual understanding, culture and the development of societies

WTD 2003 - Algeria - Tourism: a driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony

WTD 2002 - Costa Rica - Ecotourism, the key to sustainable development

WTD 2001- Iran (Islamic Republic of) - Tourism: a tool for peace and dialogue among civilizations

WTD 2000 - Germany - Technology and nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century

WTD 1999 - Chile - Tourism: preserving world heritage for the new millennium

WTD 1998 - Mexico - Public-private sector partnership: the key to tourism development and promotion

WTD 1997 - Tourism: a leading activity of the twenty-first century for job creation and environmental protection

WTD 1996 - Tourism: a factor of tolerance and peace

WTD 1995 - WTO: serving world tourism for twenty years

WTD 1994 - Quality staff, quality tourism

WTD 1993 - Tourism development and environmental protection: towards a lasting harmony

WTD 1992 - Tourism: a factor of growing social and economic solidarity and of encounter between people

WTD 1991 - Communication, information and education: powerlines of tourism development

WTD 1990 - Tourism: an unrecognized industry, a service to be released

WTD 1989 - The free movement of tourists creates one world

WTD 1988 - Tourism: education for all

WTD 1987 - Tourism for development

WTD 1986 - Tourism: a vital force for world peace

WTD 1985 - Youth Tourism: cultural and historical heritage for peace and friendship

WTD 1984 - Tourism for international understanding, peace and cooperation

WTD 1983 - Travel and holidays are a right but also a responsibility for all

WTD 1982 - Pride in travel: good guests and good hosts

WTD 1981 - Tourism and the quality of life

WTD 1980 - Tourism's contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding

Why Tourism?