The World Tourism Day was celebrated for the first time September 27, 1980, when UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) held a meeting in Spain to mark the event. This date was chosen to coincide with a crucial milestone in world tourism: the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes September 27, 1970.
The day holds significance as tourism, as a key economic sector, employs one in every 10 people on the Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. For some countries, it can represent over 20 per cent of their GDP. It allows people to experience some of the world’s cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity. Tourism is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment to Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 8, 12, and 14.
The constant growth of the tourism sector during the last six decades reflects more progressive access to tourism, thanks to the decline in the cost of transport and the worldwide growth of the middle classes. The recognition of the right to holidays in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the improved adoption of labour rights in many countries, have also supported its development. These factors also serve as a backdrop for the resilience shown by tourism in recent years.
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