World
World Tourism Day being observed today
This year, the theme of the day is 'Rethinking Tourism'.
World Tourism Day is being observed on Tuesday (today) across the globe including Pakistan under the umbrella of the United Nations.
This day is celebrated every year to focus on promoting tourism in various parts of the world.
The aim of the day is to foster awareness among the people about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
Various events including conferences, seminars, symposia, walks and exibitions will be held today to mark the day in a befitting manner.
In this regard, the closing ceremony of the ongoing two-day conference will be held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts in Islamabad today under the aegis of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation.
The theme of the conference is 'Rethinking Tourism'.
Experts from tourism industry are discussing the restoration of tourism after floods removing bottlenecks to promote foreign tourism in all sectors in Pakistan.
In some countries, tourism represent more than 20% of their Gross domestic product (GDP).
History
Ever since 1980, World Tourism Day is celebrated annually across the globe on September 27. It was on this day in 1970 when the Statutes of the United Nations World Tourism Organization were adopted which are considered a milestone in global tourism.
The day was first celebrated as an international observance on September 27, 1980.
Significance
World Tourism Day’s purpose is to raise awareness on the importance of tourism that effects the social, cultural, political and economic values of international community.
However, as per UN website, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak had a massive social and economic impact—resulting both the developed and the developing economies to face a huge hit.
It is being believed that restarting tourism will help in the recovery and growth of the economies.
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has therefore designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on 'Tourism for Inclusive Growth'.