Happy World Tourism Day: September 27

It’s that time of year again, 27 September is World Tourism Day, where we celebrate everything to do with travel. Globally, the livelihood of millions of people is dependent on tourism. Things are a little different this year due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Travel and tourism are one of the most exceedingly terrible hit areas in the midst of the pandemic-forced sudden lockdown. However, that won’t stop us. The theme of World Tourism Day this year is "Tourism and Rural Development". It encourages the celebration of the unique role played by tourism in job creation in small towns and rural areas.

On this World Tourism Day, the COVID-19 pandemic represents an opportunity to rethink the future of the tourism sector, including how it adds to the sustainable development goals, through its social, cultural, political, and economic value. Tourism can eventually help us move beyond the pandemic, by uniting individuals and promoting solidarity and trust.

As said by the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, tourism empowers rural communities, providing jobs and opportunities, most notably for women and youth all around the world. Tourism is one of the main sources of income for the people living in the rural areas as it helps them to hold onto their unique cultural heritage and at the same time helps in safeguarding habitat and endangered species.