World Tourism Day 2020: World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27th to preserve and promote culture and heritage all around the world. This year, World Tourism Day will highlight the importance of the travel sector across the globe as it has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic badly and also lowered the economic growth. This day will help us think about the tourism industry’s future and how to overcome the ongoing challenges.
The tourism industry contributes to sustainable development goals through its social, cultural, political, and economic value. By bringing people together and promoting solidarity and trust, it can help advance global cooperation beyond the pandemic.
According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 100 to 120 million direct tourism jobs are at risk. As the tourism sector is affected there has been a decline of 1.5 to 2.8 percent of global GDP forecasted by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Date, history and significance
Since 1980, World Tourism Day is celebrated annually across the world on September 27. On this day, Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted which are considered a milestone in global tourism. First World Tourism Day was observed on September 27, 1980.
In current times, it is important to raise awareness about the tourism sector because 90% of World Heritages Sites are closed as a result of the pandemic and young people in rural communities are three times more likely to be unemployed.
However, domestic tourism is expected to return before international tourism, as per UNWTO foresight. This could benefit rural communities if managed well.
World Tourism Day Theme 2020
The theme for World Tourism Day 2020 is “Tourism and Rural Development” as countries across the world depend on the sector to drive recovery. This year people will celebrate the importance of tourism in providing jobs and opportunities, mostly for women and youth, in rural as well as big cities.
