At its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979), the UN Tourism General Assembly decided to institute World Tourism Day, commencing in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of adopting the UN Tourism Statutes on 27 September 1970.

World Tourism Day is a global celebration that underscores the potential for international collaboration in tourism. Currently, tourism accounts for about six percent of the world’s gross national product, with approximately 1.3 billion tourist trips taking place annually.

Every year, millions of individuals embark on journeys of discovery, exploring new places, cultures, traditions, and ways of life. This personal interaction, on a global scale, contributes to the growth of tolerance, mutual respect, and understanding.

World Tourism Day 2024, with the theme “Tourism and Peace”, wants to highlight the vital role of this sector in fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and supporting reconciliation processes.

Roman Bondarchuk, UzA