Sat Sep 28 12:04:42 UTC 2024: ## World Tourism Day Celebrates “More and Better Investment” for People, Planet, and Prosperity
**Montevideo, September 28th, 2024** – World Tourism Day was celebrated globally on Friday, September 27th, under the theme “more and better investment for people, planet and prosperity.” The day, recognized by the United Nations as a crucial economic sector, marked a moment to celebrate the global impact of tourism.
As one of the pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, tourism contributes 9% of the world’s GDP and provides over 260 million jobs worldwide. For some countries, tourism accounts for up to 20% of their GDP, with the hotel, restaurant, and travel industries serving as “important gateways to the world of work,” particularly for women, youth, and migrant workers in developing countries, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Established in 1980 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during a meeting in Torremolinos, Spain, World Tourism Day aims to raise awareness about the social, cultural, political, and economic value of tourism. The date was chosen in 1979 to coincide with the adoption of the organization’s statutes.
Since 1950, leisure travel has exploded from 25 million trips to 1.3 billion today, driven by factors like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, improved working conditions, a growing global middle class, cheaper air travel, and the rise of the internet.
In 2017, the UNWTO declared the year as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, highlighting the importance of promoting understanding between cultures and raising awareness about the world’s rich heritage.
First Piper 