Thu Sep 26 14:15:10 UTC 2024: ## Tourism Committee Endorses “Tourism and Peace” as Theme for World Tourism Day 2024
The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), an independent body reporting to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has welcomed the UNWTO’s decision to dedicate World Tourism Day 2024 to the theme of “Tourism and Peace.”
In a statement released following their recent meeting, the WCTE highlighted the timeliness of this theme amidst the current global climate of conflict and division. The Committee emphasized tourism’s vital role in fostering cross-cultural understanding, serving as a catalyst for peace, mutual understanding, and friendship between people worldwide.
Echoing the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for “building peace as a conscious, bold, and even radical act,” the WCTE emphasized the importance of supporting peace negotiations in conflict-affected destinations, adhering to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.
The WCTE, responsible for interpreting, implementing, and evaluating the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics, called on all stakeholders in the tourism industry to promote its ethical principles and ensure their practical application, including the right to tourism.
“Tourism should always serve as a reminder of the importance of dialogue, peace, tolerance, and mutually beneficial interactions between people and countries,” the statement concluded.
First Piper 