Today Is World Tourism Day

In line with the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, World Tourism Day 2013 is being held under the theme Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future.

This year’s theme highlights tourism’s role in water access and shines a spotlight on the actions being taken by the sector in order to contribute to a more sustainable water future, as well as the challenges ahead.

As a trillion dollar economic sector, tourism is a powerful force capable of tackling these challenges by offering effective solutions geared towards a more sustainable water future.

With over one billion people traveling internationally each year, tourism can be an important vehicle of raising awareness and changing behaviors.

WTD 2013 official celebrations on 27 September will be hosted by the Maldives.

Celebrated annually on 27 September, the UNWTO touts World Tourism Day as the biggest international event in tourism. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address the global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlight the tourism sector´s contribution to achieving these goals.