World Tourism Day 2024,Background and Theme

Every year since 1980, the 27th of September has been observed as World Tourism Day worldwide. The day underscores the role of tourism in a country's economic development and the role it plays in promoting people-to-people contact across cultures. 

The Union Ministry of Tourism will celebrate the 2024 World Tourism in New Delhi on 27 September 2024. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar was the chief guest at the function. 

The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu; and Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, were also present. 

Background to the World Tourism Day 

The United Nations Tourism General Assembly, at its session in Torremolinos, Spain, in September 1979, passed a resolution to mark 27 September as World Tourism Day. This date was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the UN Tourism Statutes on 27 September 1970.

The United Nations Tourism Statutes were adopted at the International Union of Official Travel Organisations ( IUOTO ) meeting in Mexico City in 1970, which changed the organisation's name to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. 

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation was established in 1975 and changed its name to UN Tourism in January 2024.

This day was also chosen as it marks the end of the tourist season in the northern hemisphere and the start of tourism in the southern hemisphere.

The first World Tourism Day was observed on 27 September 1980.

Theme of the 2024 World Tourism Day 

Every year, UN Tourism chooses a theme for World Tourism Day. This year's theme is "Tourism and Peace."

The theme highlights tourism's contribution to promoting peace in the world by promoting understanding between people of different cultures. It helps break down stereotypes and prejudices about other people. 

Tourism can help bring together different nations and cultures and support reconciliation processes among nations.

UN Tourism

Headquarters of the UN Tourism: Madrid, Spain

Members: 160 countries