“The human desire to travel and explore is universal, which is why tourism must be open to enjoy” -Secretary-General UNWTO
Tourism For Inclusive Growth 2021
Pack your bags, pull out your fanny packs and get ready to celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27th. It is annually celebrated to raise and spread awareness of the role that tourism plays in our society, and this year is the 42nd anniversary highlighting the power of ’TOURISM FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH’. Besides adding economic value to communities, tourism adds social, political, and cultural value, helping all countries to build a better future.
“On World Tourism Day, we recognize the power and potential of tourism to advance prosperity and drive inclusive sustainable development” -Secretary-General, UN
History
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
September 27 was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) were adopted. The UNWTO decided in late September 1979 to institute World Tourism Day, which was then first celebrated in 1980. This day was deemed appropriate as it comes while tourism season is wrapping up in the Northern Hemisphere and just beginning in the Southern Hemisphere.
Theme
The COVID-19 pandemic is biggest crisis in the history of tourism continuing into a second year. It has had a massive social and economic impact with developing countries taking the biggest brunt on tourism. Tourism employs one in every ten people on Earth and because of the pandemic, 100-120 million direct tourism jobs are at risk. This is why this year the theme chosen by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and therefore designating World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on “Tourism for Inclusive Growth.” UNWTO urges people to highlight the ability of tourism as the world has started opening.
HOW TO CELEBRATE #WORLDTOURISMDAY
- Take a vacation in your hometown
Be a tourist in your home city, take in the sights and activities in your town. This will support local businesses and help give you a new perspective on where you live.
If you are in and around Tamarindo why not take a Semiprivate Surf Lesson. Tamarindo Beach is great for couples or friends that seek personalized service rather than a group experience. Head to the Cortez Waterfall, you can swim almost completely underneath the water that’s flowing down and take a walk above it. Another option is visiting a national park like National park Rincón de la Vieja where you will find untouched nature, a paradise of thermal baths with geysers, bubbling mud pots, an active volcano and a variety of adventure.
2. Get educated
Research countries that you would like to visit or learn more about the most visited countries in the world. Some of them include China, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, and Thailand.
3. Plan a trip
Use world tourism day as an opportunity to plan that vacation you have been dreaming of. If your dreaming of coming to Costa Rica and taking in some of the local culture, check out our B&B packages.Or if traveling to a place far away from your home and exploring it is not a viable option try traveling virtually, there are many exciting videos online that will take you to far off places right from the comfort of your home. Try a virtual vacation to Costa Rica; HERE
No matter how you choose to celebrate world tourism day remember the importance it has for people and places around the world. Tourism can create jobs in areas where unemployment has risen due to unavoidable factors like the pandemic. And most importantly traveling and seeing new places is good for our minds and good for our society creating a better world for us all.
Start planning in a travel/bucket list journal.
