KarryOn would like to extend a very Happy World Tourism Day to all of our travel industry friends, fellow globetrotters and culturally curious soul mates.
We hope you have an incredible day celebrating all things travel on this year’s 37th annual United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) appointed World Tourism Day.
Whether you’re going out for a lunch with your co-workers, joining discussions on tourism’s ability to change the world, booking a sustainable holiday or encouraging holidaymakers to travel roads less taken, we hope you have a special day because that’s exactly what tourism is – it’s special.
Image: Ashim D’Silva/Unsplash
Tourism is so incredibly remarkable it’s one of the few industries which can make much-needed positive educational, political, economical and cultural changes to a destination.
Just look at how over the last 12 months tourism was responsible for saving endangered mountain gorillas in in Uganda, delivering hope to refugees, freeing wildlife from captivity, bringing down destructive organisations and protecting vulnerable children.
It’s special indeed and aren’t we all, industry professionals and tourists, incredibly fortunate to be apart of it.
The power of tourism is unlimited and it’s one the UNWTO, along with dozens of representatives from around the world, will discuss during an annual gathering held in Qatar today, MalayMail Online reported.
As part of this year’s theme, tourism representatives from around the world (including for the first time, representatives from Jamaica) will discuss the importance of responsible travel while also releasing a manual to the pubic called ‘Travel. Enjoy. Respect’ focusing on five pillars – reducing environment impact, respecting wildlife, purchasing non-endangering products, accessing only places open to visitors in protected areas, reducing water and energy consumption as well as leaving a good impression.
“The question, as we celebrate World Tourism Day 2017, is how we can enable this powerful global transformative force.”
Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General
He continued, saying the number of travellers crossing international borders in 2030 will grow to 1.8 billion, creating 1.8 billion opportunities “to make this world a better place”.
READ: Anti-tourism is an issue for Travel Agents & the industry
READ: Travel to Change the World – Tony Carne, Urban Adventures