The World Tourism Day 2024 is going to be celebrated on September 27. This day is celebrated to highlight the significance of tourism in fostering social, cultural, political, and economic development worldwide.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)established the day in 1980. Since then, the world has celebrated the day with a variety of events, including seminars and workshops, cultural festivals, public performances, and educational campaigns.
Every year, there is a selection of the host country for September 27. World Tourism Day 2024 host country is Georgia. The country will showcase its rich cultural heritage and commitment to sustainable tourism practices in the celebration of World Tourism Day.
What is the World Tourism Day theme 2024?
The World Tourism Day 2024 theme is "Tourism and Peace." The theme highlights the vital role of tourism in promoting peace and understanding among nations. The main purpose of the theme is to give the message to the world that travel can be used to build harmony among different cultures.
The theme emphasizes how travel can foster mutual respect, dialogue, and harmony among different cultures. This year, the World Tourism Day 2024 slogan or theme emphasizes the importance of promoting tourism in a peaceful manner.
This theme is highly relevant in today's world. As of 2024, the world has seen so much conflict, war, and insecurity. War between Russia and Ukraine or Israel and Palestine—the world wants peace in all of them. This world tourism theme is to bring peace to the world via tourism.
The Importance of Tourism in 2024
In 2024, tourism will play a significant role in the global economy. As of now, the world has seen so much, like the COVID pandemic, wars, global conflicts, economic uncertainty, and so on. To bring back the world in stable form, tourism can play a huge role.
According to the statista, in 2023, the overall contribution of travel and tourism to global GDP was approximately $9.9 trillion, which represented about 9.1% of the world's total GDP. In addition, this figure is expected to rise to an estimated $11.1 trillion in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
The aforementioned facts are a great illustration of how tourism can aid in the global economy's recovery from the pandemic and war-related recession. Through the international day of tourism theme, the countries that rely on tourism for economic stability are often motivated to maintain peaceful relations.
In short, tourism acts as the bridge between global economies and helps connect people regardless of their backgrounds. Tourism can also help preserve local cultures and traditions while providing economic benefits to communities.
Implementation of Sustainable Tourism in 2024
The sustainable tourism concept was initially introduced to the world to minimize the negative impacts of tourism while maximizing its benefits for the environment, local communities, and economies. And it is going as it aimed for.
The global market for sustainable tourism is projected to grow at an annual rate exceeding 20% from 2024 to 2034, according to Krungsi research. Tourists are traveling sustainably, indicating a growing awareness and commitment to sustainability.
Sustainable tourism day is also celebrated on the occasion of World Tourism Day. As of 2024, there are numerous initiatives of sustainable tourism globally, including Daintree Wilderness Lodge (Australia), EcoCamp Patagonia (Chile), Six Senses Douro Valley (Portugal) and so on.
Integration of Tourism and Technology
There is huge role of technology in transforming the travel landscape. The various innovations like virtual tourism, travel apps (Voyage, Kayak, and Trip Planner AI), and artificial intelligence (AI) are making travel more accessible with personalized and immersive experiences for travelers.
There is the rise of digital nomads who are combining remote works with exploration of the world. Due to the advancement of technologies, remote work policies and desire for a more flexible and fulfilling lifestyle are being accepted worldwide.
These transformation are impacting the global economy as well as the travel industry. The future trends in the travel industry are more likely to affect how travelers plan, experience, and interact with their journeys through virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Destinations for the Year 2024
Based on the theme, there are several travel destinations best for 2024, including Bali (Indonesia), Hoi An (Vietnam), Maldives, Dominican Republic (Caribbean), Mauritius, Khao Lak (Thailand), and so on. These destinations are for those who want to focus on sustainable, tech-driven, and inclusive travel.
There is a rise in emerging travel trends like eco-travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations. The treks are the popular choice for eco travelers. Some of the popular treks in Nepal that have off beaten paths include the Everest Base Camp Trek, the Manaslu circuit Trek, and Annapurna base camp trek.
And if you want to go globally, there are several off-beaten-path destinations like Maui (United States), Saba (Dutch Caribbean), and Ecuador. Some of the nature destinations also include Greenland, Wales Trails, and Hokkaido (Japan).
Celebrating World Tourism Day in 2024
The World Tourism Celebration is different from country to country. Several countries organize exhibitions, performances, and heritage tours to showcase their cultural richness. Some of the other World Tourism Day activities include conferences and social media campaigns.
The host country is celebrating world tourism through programs like sightseeing tours highlighting wine, gastronomy, and architecture, along with a welcome cocktail and a gala dinner. Several other nations are hosting cultural exhibitions and performances to showcase their heritage.
If you can participate in the various activities, you can look for local or international tourism fairs and expos. These events particularly feature workshops, talks, and exhibitions. The other options include Participate in local cultural festivals that celebrate heritage and traditions.
Several influencers post the event pictures on social media. On their social media pages, the organizations post information about the events they host. You can also check their social media handles to watch the celebrations of the tourism day in all over the world.
Wishing you an adventurous World Tourism Day. Explore new horizons and immerse yourself in the diverse cultures that make our world unique! Happy World Tourism Day!
