Establishment Of The World Tourism Day
It was at its Third session (Torremolinos, Spain, Sept. 1979), that the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) decided to institute, commencing in the year 1980. WORLD TOURISM DAY to be commemorated on 27 September each year by appropriate events on themes selected by the General Assembly, on recommendation of WTO’s Executive Council.
This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the WTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.
The main purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
The timing of World Tourism Day is indeed 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, when tourism is of topical interest to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide from all walks of life and to tourists and the operational sector in particular.
The Organization invites all interested parties to take part on 27 September each year in the special celebrations taking place in their respective country or holiday destination.
The WTO Secretary-General issues a message each year to mark the occasion.
The Themes Selected For World Tourism Day Are
- 1980 Tourism’s contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding.
- 1981 Tourism and the quality of life.
- 1982 Pride in travel: Good guests and Good hosts.
- 1983 Travel & holidays are a right but also a responsibility for all.
- 1984 Tourism for International understanding, Peace and Cooperation.
- 1985 Youth Tourism: cultural and historical heritage or peace and friendship.
- 1986 Tourism a vital force for world peace.
- 1987 Tourism for development.
- 1988 Tourism education for all.
- 1989 The free movement of tourists creates one world development and promotion.
- 1990 Tourism an unrecognized industry, a service to be released. (The Hague Declaration on Tourism)
- 1991 Communication, information and education powerlines of tourism development.
- 1992 Tourism a factor of growing social and Economic solidarity and of encounter between people.
- 1993 Tourism development and environmental protection.
- 1994 Quality Staff, Quality Tourism.
- 1995 WTO serving world tourism for twenty years.
- 1996 Tourism a factor of Tolerance and Peace.
- 1997 Tourism a leading activity of the twenty-first century for job creation and environmental protection.
- 1998 Public-Private sector partnership the key to tourism.
- 1999 Tourism preserving world heritage for the new millennium.
- 2000 Technology and nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty- first century.
- 2001 Tourism a toll for peace and dialogue among civilizations.
- 2002 Eco Tourism the key to sustainable development.
- 2003 Tourism a driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony.
- 2004 Sports and Tourism.
- 2005 Travel and Transport.
The institution of so-called World Days to highlight among government and private circles and the public at large, salient features of the activities of intergovernmental organizations, is a widespread practice.
The organizations belonging to the United Nations System, for example, celebrate World Days devoted to the United Nations; world peace; human rights; health; literacy; environment; womanhood; childhood; cooperation for development; meteorology; telecommunications, etc.
