Covid-19 pandemic has changed the tourism scenario of the world. World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 across the world. Tourism has the capacity to unite people, which will play an important role in global cooperation in fighting job losses due to the pandemic.
Theme of World Tourism Day 2020
The theme of World Tourism Day 2020 is ‘Tourism and Rural Development’, as tourism is a leading provider of employment and opportunities in the countless rural communities around the world. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the industry had been hard hit. Also in many rural places, tourism is one of the few feasible economic sectors.
Impact of Coronavirus on Tourism
As per the data of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), about 100 to 120 million jobs in the tourism industry are at risk directly.
World Tourism Day 2020 celebration
In the history of 40 years, the official celebration of World Tourism Day will not be conducted by a single member state of the United Nations specialized agency. Instead, nations from the MERCOSUR member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile joining as member associate status) will be the joint hosts.
This is being done to exemplify the spirit of international unity that is imbibed in tourism. UNWTO has recognised it as significant.
Significance of World Tourism
As said by the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, tourism empowers rural communities, providing jobs and opportunities, most notably for women and youth all around the world.
Tourism is one of the major sources of income for the people living in the rural world as it helps them to hold onto their unique cultural heritage and traditions, and at the same time acts as an auxiliary in safeguarding habitat and endangered species.
World Tourism Day 2020 is an opportunity to recognize the potential of tourism in building a better future for all. It is estimated that 68% of the world population will live in urban areas, while 80% of those currently living in ‘extreme poverty’ live outside of towns and cities by 2050.
QUOTES ON WORLD TOURISM DAY 2020
