Since 1980, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has been raising awareness about the global impact of tourism and how it can grow to benefit more people while solving global issues with World Tourism Day, held on September 27 each year.
This year, the organization’s World Tourism Day theme is “Tourism and green investment,” a further call to action to the travel industry that more investment and targets-based approaches are needed to complete the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
So Why Is World Tourism Day Even Important?
Let’s take a look at the facts.
Tourism employs one in ten people globally. That’s roughly 790 million people. Additionally, it’s one of the industries that employs more women than men, at 54 percent — the average of women employed in the global workforce is 47 percent.
The industry is also one of the best ways for developing countries, especially Small Developing Island States like St. Kitts and Nevis or Samoa, to grow economically. Additionally, it provides opportunities to Indigenous and minority groups across the world to preserve their heritage and maintain their practices by sharing them with others.
Travel and tourism isn’t simply then about moving people to the places they want to go. It can be a force for change in an increasingly interconnected world in which we are now learning that harmful business practices can actually stymy local economies from growing and contributing to a larger economy or industry.
World Tourism Day 2023
“Tourism and green investment.”
What does that mean, exactly?
This year, there are three main tenets the UNWTO puts forth: For the People, For the Planet, For Prosperity.
For the People focuses on travel and tourism businesses investing in education and skills-based learning opportunities for younger generations to get into the industry, which is expected to require millions of new hospitality graduates and a growing skilled workforce between now and 2030.
Environmentally-friendly travel is on the rise. (photo via pcess609/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
For the Planet focuses strictly upon sustainability, and investing in more climate-friendly solutions and innovations to adapt to creating a more positive impact upon the environment than is happening currently. The UNWTO estimates hotels, resorts and restaurants alone need to invest $1.5 trillion by 2030 to reduce or eliminate their emissions.
This is especially important for the travel industry in particular because many of the destinations that rely upon tourism for a large portion of their economy are the first to be impacted negatively by climate change. One need only look at the headlines this summer to understand how devastating such an impact it can have on a destination, and that impact can extend for years.
For Prosperity focuses upon increased digitization and entrepreneurship, as well as offering greater opportunities for equity for young people and for women in training programs as the sector grows across the globe.
World Tourism Day Is Important
While it’s not necessarily a global holiday, World Tourism Day should be a wake-up call to some, a call to further action for others and a day of recognition for travelers and the travel industry as a whole.
Travel has the opportunity to impact the world in surprising and incredibly positive ways, but only if we as individuals decide to be more thoughtful about the way in which we travel and do our business.
The question is...Will you?
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