World Tourism Day 2022: History, Significance, And All You Need To Know

Travellers and their interests are fast developing as they continue to navigate how to travel in a post-pandemic world.

Young man backpacker looking at the map while waiting for a train in railway station

Source : Getty

New Delhi: World Tourism Day is commemorated on September 27 every year. This year, it will be the 42nd time this day has been observed. On World Tourism Day, we are reminded of the importance and value that tourism can offer to a person, a community, and the economy as a whole. Travellers and their interests are fast developing as they continue to navigate how to travel in a post-pandemic world, and the building blocks of the tourism sector may be substantially attributed to the preferences and feelings that constitute the traveller's choices.

World Tourism Day 2022: A brief history

Since 1980, September 27 has been designated as World Tourism Day by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. It is a United Nations agency that is responsible for the promotion of sustainable and universally acceptable tourism. This day was chosen since the UNWTO statutes were adopted, back in 1970. The passage of these Statutes is regarded as a turning point for tourism worldwide. This day was created, to raise awareness of how tourism affects socio-cultural, political, and economic values globally, and the role of tourism within the international community.

The late Nigerian native Ignatius Amaduwa Atigbi is said to be the one, who first suggested declaring September 27 of each year as World Tourism Day. In 2009, he finally received appreciation for his effort. 

World Tourism Day 2022: Significance 

The aim of celebrating this day is to increase public awareness of the role that tourism plays in the global community, as well as how it affects global social, cultural, political, and economic values. In addition, it also portrays the potential part that this sector could play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

UNWTO highlights the need of putting people and the planet first and bring everyone from governments and businesses to local communities together around a shared vision for a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient sector.

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected society and the economy. Both the industrialised and developing worlds' economies have suffered during this time, and the vulnerable individuals and marginalised groups have been the most severely affected. Resuming tourism will aid in jump-starting the recovery and growth of this sector while ensuring that the advantages hereby are distributed equitably and widely.

World Tourism Day 2022: Theme

The theme for this year, "Rethinking Tourism," will serve as a springboard for discussion on rethinking tourism for development, especially through education and employment, as well as its influence on the environment and potential for more sustainable growth. The official celebration for this year, according to UNWTO, will take place in Bali, Indonesia highlighting the shift towards tourism being recognized as a crucial pillar of development with the theme "Rethinking Tourism". 

World Tourism Day 2022: Wishes and messages

1. Nothing in this world compares to the excitement we have when seeing new locations and travelling.

2. You would discover when travelling that there is still so much to see in the world, yet we quarrel over insignificant problems that arise in daily life.

3. While love is wonderful, have you ever taken a trip?

4. Without making the effort to travel and see the places on your bucket list, life is incomplete.