World Tourism Day is one of the international observances by the United Nations. World Tourism Day, celebrated each year on 27 September, is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has designated World Tourism Day 2022 as a day to focus on “Rethinking Tourism.”
Why 27 September?
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is the United Nations specialized agency entrusted with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted on 27 September 1970.
The late Ignatius Amaduwa Atigbi, a Nigerian national, was the one who proposed the idea of marking September 27 of every year as World Tourism Day. Atigbi was the then Secretary-General of the Nigeria Tourism Association (NTA), now Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), and Chairman of Africa Travel Commission (ATC).
It was first celebrated in 1980, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of UNWTO.
World Tourism Day Themes
2021: "Tourism for Inclusive Growth"
2020: "Tourism and Rural Development"
2019: "Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all"
2018:"Tourism and the Digital Transformation"
2017: "Sustainable Tourism"
More information