UNWTO: Protecting People and Places Global Tourism Priority

World Tourism Day 2022 celebrations in Bali.

“The ultimate cross-cutting and people-to-people sector, tourism’s potential is now recognized more widely than ever. It’s up to us to deliver on this potential,” said World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili launching celebrations in Bali for World Tourism Day 2022.

Commemorated each year on September 27, World Tourism Day is held to pay tribute to the tourism industry, its professionals and employees; foster awareness among the international community of its importance; and encourage people to travel.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and Indonesia Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno.

This year’s theme: “Rethinking Tourism” aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting people and places. In this direction and marking World Tourism Day, the UNWTO launched its first World Tourism Day Report and presented the G20 Guidelines on Strengthening MSMEs and Communities as Agents of Transformation in Tourism.

The guidelines provide guidance on key policies that can create resilient and sustainable MSMEs and communities with a focus on human capital, innovation, youth and women empowerment, climate action, and policy, governance and investments.

While the inaugural report titled “Rethinking Tourism: From Crisis to Transformation” outlines ways to achieve a more inclusive and resilient future in terms of gender equality, sustainability and climate action, tourism governance and investments and innovation.

This week’s Bali event brought together world leaders and the largest number of tourism ministers in the history of World Tourism Day and was supported by sector stakeholders from around the world celebrating in their countries.

In Greece, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias sent out his message of unity and respect for the people supporting the industry. “Let us all not forget that tourism is its people who work hard to get the steam engine of the Greek economy rolling,” he said via his twitter account.

Ας μη ξεχνάμε όλοι μας ότι ο Τουρισμός είναι άνθρωποί του που εργάζονται σκληρά για να κινηθεί η ατμομηχανή της ελληνικής οικονομίας.#respect #φιλοξενία 🇬🇷
Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Τουρισμού. #WorldTourismDay

Σήμερα σε ξενοδοχεία της Αθήνας. pic.twitter.com/2Ruux64FlG

— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) September 27, 2022

The tourism minister of host country Indonesia Sandiaga Uno said “the most important assets in tourism are its people and the planet. We must ensure the best support for both.”

Lastly, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said “tourism has the power to foster inclusion, protect nature & promote cultural understanding. We must rethink and reinvent the sector to ensure its sustainability.”