world tourism day theme 2021

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Investing in People, Planet, and Prosperity

The overall disruption in the tourism sector brought about by COVID-19, provides an opportunity to redefine and recalibrate the direction and narratives of tourism investments for a more sustainable future for the People, the Planet, and prosperity.  

This  World Tourism Day 2023 , the  UNWTO ,  under the theme “Tourism and green investment” highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for the  Sustainable Development Goals , the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030. Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity.

Visit the World Tourism Organization’s website

The UN World Tourism Organization has prepared a website and digital materials for social networks. Let’s all contribute to promote tourism investments focused on achieving a better world for the benefit of all.

How tourism should invest to contribute to the SDGs

The possibilities of strategic investment for this triple dimension are immense:

For the People by investing in education and skills

Looking ahead, the global tourism workforce will require millions of hospitality graduates annually between now and 2030 and a further 800,000 jobs a year will require specific vocational training. For these reasons, we need to invest in people, as they are the foundation of tourism so that all those who wish to be part of the sector have the same opportunities to access quality tourism training, anywhere in the world.

For the Planet by investing in sustainable infrastructure and accelerating green transformation

Looking into the future, the need to reduce emissions provides an investment opportunity of $24.7 trillion in the green buildings sector of emerging market cities by 2030, in which hotels, resorts, and restaurants account for $1.5 trillion. In addition, tourism faces a lot more investment opportunities related to new solutions and technologies to decarbonize the sector as well as to ensure climate-resilient infrastructure through adaptation solutions.

For Prosperity by investing in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship

Digitalization and innovation programs are a strategic priority to support particularly young people and women, which are critical to upskill the tourism sector’s workforce. Moreover, the global need to increase investments in programs that support and incentivize entrepreneurship and generate opportunities for innovations is highly need it in the tourism sector.

In order to succeed, let’s make this World Tourism Day a call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners, and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy .

What is the Glasgow Declaration?

The Glasgow Declaration is a compromise to accelerate climate action in tourism and to secure strong commitments to support the global goals to halve emissions over the next decade and reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050. Over 450 organizations have become signatories of this declaration.

Did you know?

• Tourism employs one in every ten people on Earth.
• Tourism in rural areas can particularly benefit traditionally disadvantaged groups such as women - who make up 54% of the workforce in the tourism sector compared to 39% for the whole economy - youth and Indigenous people.
• In emerging destinations, 50% of young people are unable to work in tourism due to a lack of opportunity, resources, or access to academic training.

Campaign materials

Follow our event live!

The UN World Tourism Organization wants you to join the celebration online ( 27-28 September). You can follow its two-day event through its website or its YouTube channel .  

An indigenous entrepreneur in tune with Mother Earth

After successfully reclaiming her people’s territory in Quebrada de Humahuaca, Northern Argentina, Celestina Ábalos turned to tourism to share and promote her indigenous culture. ILO entrepreneurship training during the COVID-19 pandemic helped her business to grow.

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a leading UN international agency in the field of tourism. Its mission is to promote tourism as a driver of  economic growth, inclusive development  and  environmental sustainability  and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. Discover how they are working to cope with this pandemic along with the tourism sector and other UN agencies. 

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

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World Tourism Day 2021

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World Tourism Day 2021: Tourism for Inclusive Growth

Relevant links:

• Provisional Programme (PDF)
• General Information Note
• Attestation
• Promotional Offer Air Côte d'Ivoire

Provisional Programme

Cote d´Ivoire (26 September 2021) (GMT)

Welcome evening reception

Cote d´Ivoire (27 September 2021) (GMT)

• Musical show
• UNWTO launch of WTD Video: Tourism and Inclusive recovery

Master of Ceremony (TBC, Ivorian speaker)

Welcome remarks:

• Mr. Jean-Marc YACE, Mayor of Cocody
• H.E.Mr. Siandou FOFANA, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cote d´Ivoire followed by a video of Côte d’Ivoire
• H.E.Mr. Zurab POLOLIKASHVILI, UNWTO Secretary General
• H.E.Mr Patrick ACHI, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire

Group photo

Visit of the exhibition hall with country booths followed by Press Point (Coffee break)

Keynote address - Salle des Fêtes

Mr. Gustave DIASSO, Resident Representive, UEMOA (TBC)

1 Ministerial Panel Discussion on "Tourism for inclusive growth" - Salle des Fêtes

Moderator: Elcia Grandcourt, UNWTO Regional Director for Africa

• H.E.Mr. Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Côte d’Ivoire
• H.E.Mr. Modero Nsimba Matondo, Minister of tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Hon. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal , Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana
• H.E.Mrs. María Reyes Maroto Illera, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain
• H.E. Mr. Ahmed Athif, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism of Maldives

Expert Panel discussion:  “How can tourism live up to the inclusive growth opportunity?” - Salle des Fêtes

Moderator: Channels TV

• Mr Donald AKA, Chief Marketing and Technology Officer, Azalai Hotel - Confirmed
• Mrs. Antonia Sodonon, Country representative, UN Women- Confirmed
• Mr. Kwakye Donkor, CEO, Africa Tourism Partners - Confirmed
• Mr. Mark Kaigwa, founder of 254- Confirmed
• Local Expert – TBC from Côte d’Ivoire

WTD Lunch (UNWTO videos playing in loop and WTD Video) – Ancienne patinoire

2 The Future of Africa Speaks – TBC - Salle des Fêtes

• Tourism and innovation towards inclusive recovery

Award Start up competition

B to B meetings for pre-registered project leaders and investors (22nd floor, Tower)

UNWTO Affiliate Membership and tourism private sector development in Africa - Salle des Fêtes

Gala dinner offered by Côte d’Ivoire – Palais des Congrès (at Sofitel)

1 Introduction video before the session (testimonies + CNN restart tourism + alula framework) 2 Introduction video before the session (testimonies + CNN restart tourism + alula framework)

Cote d´Ivoire (28 September 2021) (GMT)

Visit of the lagoon followed by an Ivorian gastronomic and cultural brunch

Culinary and artistic discovery Prize presentation for the various competitions Organization of games Live orchestra

Departure of the delegations

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Related content, world tourism day 2023: tourism and green investments, world tourism day 2022 | “rethinking tourism”, world tourism day 2020, world tourism day.

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World Tourism Day 2021: History, theme, significance, and all you need to know

This year, the theme of World Tourism Day is ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

World Tourism Day is observed on 27 September annually to raise awareness about the significance of tourism and how it affects social, political, cultural, and economic values globally. The day is marked to highlight the importance of the tourism sector in promoting and preserving cultures and heritage around the world.

World Tourism Day also acknowledges the contributions the tourism sector can make towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. In times of the pandemic, as the tourism sector remains one of the worst affected sectors, here’s a look at the history and significance of the day.

On 27 September 1970, the statutes of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) were adopted. Five years later, these statues, considered a milestone in global tourism, paved the way for the establishment of the UNWTO .

The UNWTO celebrated the first World Tourism Day on 27 September, 1980, to mark the occasion of its establishment. Ever since then, the day has been marked across the world.

This year, the theme of World Tourism Day is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth,” focusing on growth and inclusive recovery. The UNWTO is focusing on the fact that there are people behind every tourism statistic and aims to acknowledge the same.

The international body said that it aims to ensure that every part of the tourism sector has a say in how the sector will shape in the future. The UNWTO said it would make efforts to “celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future”.

Significance

World Tourism Day remains significant as the sector employs one in every ten people on earth, according to the United Nations . For some nations, the sector represents over one-fifth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

During the pandemic, 90 percent of world heritage sites were closed and millions, who were dependent on tourism for their livelihoods, left unemployed. The purpose of World Tourism Day is to highlight the importance the tourism sector plays in our lives and to focus on inclusive growth in the sector.

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World Tourism Day 2021: Know its history, significance and theme

World tourism day 2021: the world tourism organization (unwto) is an united nations’ agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism..

World Tourism Day is observed every year on September 27 to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is an United Nations’ agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

History of World Tourism Day

UNWTO was established on this day in 1980 to create awareness on how tourism affects social-cultural, political and economic values globally and the role of tourism within the international community.

Significance of World Tourism Day

On World Tourism Day, UNWTO urges people to highlight the ability of tourism. “By celebrating this day, we state our commitment that, as tourism grows, the benefits that come will be felt at every level of our broad and diverse sector, from the biggest airline to the smallest family business,” Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO’s secretary general, said in his official message.

UN secretary general António Guterres said the tourism sector touches almost every part of the global economy and societies, enabling historically marginalised people and those at risk of being left behind to benefit from development that is local and direct. “On World Tourism Day, we recognise the power and potential of tourism to advance prosperity and drive inclusive sustainable development,” he added.

Theme of World Tourism Day 2021

This year the theme of World Tourism Day is 'Tourism for Inclusive Growth'. It aims to help people associated with the tourism sector in every possible way. UNWTO has urged businesses, tourists, UN agencies, member states and non-members to "celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future".

Celebrating World Tourism Day

Keeping World Tourism Day in mind and to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Centre’s initiative to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is organising various events and activities in the state to promote state tourism and make people aware of the state's rich history, traditions, cultural and national heritage, possibilities, tourism importance etc. and to enhance their tourism knowledge, news agency PTI reported.

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