World Tourism Day celebrates the importance of tourism in culture, economy, politics and society. Every year on September 27, several countries take initiatives to make communities aware 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 now 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 have made him one of the protagonists of the sector’s modern development, and he has been dubbed the “Tourism Czar” and “Mr. World Tourism Day”.
World Tourism Day in the Azores
In the Azores, to mark World Tourism Day, the various municipalities will be holding conferences to encourage dialogue between people about the sustainability of tourism in the region, as well as discussing this year’s official theme and reflecting on its importance.
Along these lines, the Ribeira Grande City Council, for example, will be organizing an open conversation, adding its own theme: “Ribeira Grande: challenges for sustainable tourism”. The aim of this conversation will be to share and collect solutions for sustainable tourism development in the municipality.
World Tourism Day in Portugal
In celebration of this date, several cities in Portugal will be holding events and conferences to mark the date and highlight the importance of the message of this year’s theme.
In the case of Funchal (Autonomous Region of Madeira), this celebration will last all week, from the 23rd to the 27th, giving rise to a series of activities, such as Peddy-papers, guided walks and tasting sessions of the best and most emblematic flavors of Madeira.
World Tourism Day 2024
In 2024, World Tourism Day will feature the pertinent message: “Tourism and Peace”, alluding to the current military conflicts taking place.
Last year, the official World Tourism Day conference was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and marked the 43rd edition of the day. This year’s theme was “Tourism & Green Investment”.
This year, the conference will be held in Georgia, in Tbilisi, and will kick off on September 26 with sightseeing tours guided by the Georgian National Tourism Administration. The celebration will last until September 28 and will be attended by a number of figures from various countries who are experts in the field of tourism.
The theme “Tourism and Peace” has received support from various figures and institutions, including the Vatican, which published the message: “In a time as troubled as ours, we could not think of a better choice to offer those who travel a moment of reflection and personal commitment. Cultural exchange between peoples, which is a privileged form of tourism, can also be transformed into a concrete commitment to peace.”
The program will be structured as follows:
Thursday – September 26th
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Guided tour offered by the Georgian National Tourism Administration
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.| Welcome cocktail (at the Georgian Ceremonial Palace)
Friday – September 27th
11 .m. – 11:35 a.m.| Opening Ceremony and Welcome Remarks
11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. | Opening Speech: “Journey to Harmony – Tourism as a Catalyst for Sustainable Peace and a Better Future”
11:50 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | High Level Ministerial Dialogue – Making connections through tourism
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Lunch
3 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.| Official handover ceremony of the “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Georgia” guideline
3:05 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Presentation of the “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Georgia” guideline
