World Tourism Day celebrates the importance of tourism in culture, economy, politics and society. Every year on September 27, numerous countries take initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism development.
This day has been celebrated since 1980, and was chosen because, in 1970, on September 27, directives were implemented that are considered pillars of today’s tourism. The suggestion came from an important figure in the global tourism community, Ignatius Amaduwa Atigbi. His contributions to tourism planning on a global scale made him one of the key players in the modern development of the sector, and he has been dubbed the “Tourism Czar” and “Mr. World Tourism Day”.
World Tourism Day 2022 takes on the theme “Rethinking Tourism”, aiming to call for a rethink of how tourism is made and how we can change and improve the sector, so that not only can we have a better (authentic and affordable) tourism offer, but also develop the sector in a sustainable way that benefits destination communities and develops their economies in the long term.
This year, the WTO (World Tourism Organization) will celebrate its 42nd edition in Bali, Indonesia, featuring panel discussions, such as “Rethinking Tourism as a Key Element in Recovery,” “A New Leadership for Recovery,” and “The Tourism We Want,” among others.
