ETW Staff – Mumbai
This year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) which will be held on September 27, will focus on raising awareness of the important impact tourism has on countries and communities around the world and its potential as a force for good, creating a better world for all. The theme to celebrate WTD is ‘one billion tourists, one billion opportunities’. Each year the purpose of WTD is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals. Burkina Faso will host the Official Celebration 2015.
In his message, Ban Ki-moon, secretary general, United Nations said, “This year´s WTD highlights the global potential of tourism for socio-economic development. With more than one billion international tourists now travelling the world each year, tourism has become a powerful and transformative force that is making a genuine difference in the lives of millions of people. The potential of tourism for sustainable development is considerable. As one of the world’s leading employment sectors, tourism provides important livelihood opportunities, helping to alleviate poverty and drive inclusive development. As tourism revolves around encounters between different peoples, the sector can foster multicultural understanding and raise awareness on the need to preserve cultural and natural heritage.
While Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO added, “This year´s WTD is an opportunity to celebrate the transformative potential of one billion tourists.”