World Tourism Day

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.

At its Twelfth Session in Istanbul, Turkey, in October of 1997, the UNWTO General Assembly decided to designate a host country each year to act as the Organization's partner in the celebration of World Tourism Day.

At its Fifteenth Session in Beijing, China, in October of 2003, the Assembly decided the following geographic order to be followed for World Tourism Day celebrations: 2006 in Europe; 2007 in South Asia; 2008 in the Americas and 2009 in Africa.

Themes
Themes of World Tourism Day over the years:

1980: Tourism's contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding

1981: Tourism and the quality of life
1982: Pride in travel: good guests and good hosts
1983: Travel and holidays are a right but also a responsibility for all
1984: Tourism for international understanding, peace and cooperation
1985: Youth Tourism: cultural and historical heritage for peace and friendship
1986: Tourism: a vital force for world peace
1987: Tourism for development
1988: Tourism: education for all
1989: The free movement of tourists creates one world
1990: Tourism: an unrecognized industry, a service to be released ("The Hague Declaration on Tourism")
1991: Communication, information and education: powerlines of tourism development
1992: Tourism: a factor of growing social and economic solidarity and of encounter between people
1993: Tourism development and environmental protection: towards a lasting harmony
1994: Quality staff, quality tourism
1995: WTO: serving world tourism for twenty years
1996: Tourism: a factor of tolerance and peace
1997: Tourism: a leading activity of the twenty-first century for job creation and environmental protection
1998: Public-private sector partnership: the key to tourism development and promotion
1999: Tourism: preserving world heritage for the new millennium
2000: Technology and nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century
2001: Tourism: a toll for peace and dialogue among civilizations
2002: Ecotourism, the key to sustainable development
2003: Tourism: a driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony
2004: Sport and tourism: two living forces for mutual understanding, culture and the development of societies

2005: Travel and transport: from the imaginary of Jules Verne to the reality of the 21st century
2006: Tourism Enriches
2007: Tourism opens doors for women
2008: Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change and global warming
2009: Tourism - Celebrating Diversity
2010: Tourism & Biodiversity