World Tourism Day 2021 – Date, Theme and Significance

Back in 1979, the United Nations (UN) decided to celebrate ‘World Tourism Day’ every year on September 27, to ‘increase awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.’

The UN has a special agency called United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that essentially focuses on responsible & sustainable tourism.

Needless to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact on both developing & developed countries across the world, and one of the worst-hit industries is ‘tourism’. 

World Tourism Day 2021 Theme

Keeping that in mind, the UNWTO has decided that the theme for World Tourism Day 2021 would be – Tourism for Inclusive Growth, which would emphasize the upliftment of local communities and marginalized groups, essentially dependent on travelers for their source of income. 

As the vaccination drives are going on in full swing and we are slowly heading back to normalcy, let’s take a pledge to travel responsibly, contribute towards the local economy and reduce our carbon footprints while we explore the world.

“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” – Lady Bird Johnson