World Tourism Day 2024, under the theme "Tourism and Peace", wants to highlight the vital role of this sector in fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation processes.
Tourism, often highlighted for its role in economic development, also plays a significant role in fostering peace. On a global level, where nations are interconnected and interdependent, Tourism, an industry made by people and for people, emerges as a compelling and dynamic force to defy stereotypes and challenge prejudices.
This sector can be perceived as the epitome of intercultural dialogue; it allows meeting the "other", learning about different cultures, hearing foreign languages, tasting exotic flavours, bonding with other human beings, and building tolerance. In essence, it is a mind-broadening educational and spiritual experience.
On September 27, 1970, the Charter of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was adopted and approved. This is an international agency specializing in tourism, with the mission of promoting and developing sustainable tourism globally. To commemorate this event, on September 27, 1980, the World Tourism Organization decided to choose September 27 every year as "World Tourism Day". The day emphasizes how tourism contributes to social, cultural, and economic development, and it encourages responsible travel practices that benefit both travelers and local communities.