Hundreds of global tourism leaders have gathered in Saudi Arabia for what UNWTO is calling the “biggest and most impactful” World Tourism Day since the event’s inception in 1980.
With travel and tourism having taken a huge leap back towards pre-pandemic levels in the 12 months since the last World Tourism Day, this year’s event takes on extra significance. Yes, tourism is back, but how to balance it with responsibility to the planet and people?
To this end, World Tourism Day 2023 meets under the theme “Tourism and Green Investments”, signalling the rise in importance of sustainable tourism. No longer a trend, responsible travel is now considered a necessity for the industry’s long-term prosperity, and even survival.
“This World Tourism Day we recognise the theme of Tourism and Green Investments,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said.
“The theme could not be more timely. 2023 was the hottest year on record. And extreme weather events like heat waves could become the new normal.
“Tourism needs to adapt. For this, we need to rethink how our sector is financed. We need to make it easier for investors of all kinds to support tourism projects with the potential to make a difference.
“Looking further ahead, we need investments that can empower tourism to build a better and fairer future for all.”
On the eve of World Tourism Day, Pololikashvili added that, “Tourism is a pillar of our economies”.
“It plays a central role in our societies and in our individual lives. And it offers solutions to some of our biggest challenges – including the climate emergency and the urgent need to shift to more sustainable economies.”
“The power of tourism is enormous. But it is not a force that can be taken for granted. Instead, it must be supported, above all with investment.”
People, planet, prosperity.
With official celebrations for World Tourism Day underway on 27 September in Riyadh, UNWTO’s member states will mark the occasion in every region through a range of special events and programmes. But specifically, UNWTO says the day will focus on the importance of:
- People (by investing in education and skills),
- Planet (by investing in sustainable infrastructure and accelerating green transformation)
- Prosperity (by investing in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship).
First held in 1980, World Tourism Day offers a chance to celebrate the sector’s vital role in advancing peace and prosperity. This year, UNWTO welcomes representatives from more than 100 of its member states, including more than 50 Tourism Ministers.
For more information on the day, click here.
Earlier this year, UNWTO predicted international tourist arrivals could reach up to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with many regions already experiencing pre-pandemic arrival numbers.
