World Tourism Day 2022: Rethinking Tourism (Infographic)

42 years ago, the World Tourism Organization marked the first World Tourism Day on September 27. The day acknowledged and celebrated tourism as a vital part of the economy, cultural exploration, and society. In 1980, the topic of World Tourism Day was “Tourism’s contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding.” 42 years later, the same purpose of tourism resides. However, other goals and needs in the tourism industry have risen, and today we’re urged to rethink tourism, re-imagining the industry’s growth. 

In the infographic below, discover tourism statistics on people’s traveling habits, the most popular destinations, and other important insights: 

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The cultural, societal, and economic significance of tourism

When we think about tourism, we think about culturally-charged experiences and the process of discovery, but it’s so much more. As the World Tourism Organization discussed on the first World Tourism Day, the preservation of cultural heritage is closely tied to tourism as well as the understanding of different cultures, nationalities, and people. Tourism allows people to share and exchange knowledge, which leads to a better understanding of a culture. The better we understand different cultures, the more we can cultivate compassion towards one another.

Also, the tourism industry is vital for the country’s economic health. Many countries depend on the well-being of their tourism industry to prosper and drive economic growth. It’s not only the tourist expenditures that contribute to economic growth but also the jobs that this industry provides to people. Tourism employs one in every ten people in the world. Hotels, restaurants, shops, excursions, and other services or activities create jobs for people in certain well-traveled parts of the world, which drives economic growth and socioeconomic well-being. 

Tourism and the pandemic: Innovation in times of need

2020 and 2021 were difficult years for the travel and tourism industry. As the pandemic paralyzed travel across the globe, travel, and tourism were one of the most affected sectors due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Airplanes were on the ground, hotels closed, and travel restrictions made it impossible for most people to travel internationally or domestically. 

Desperate times called for innovative measures. The digital environment emerged rapidly and allowed the tourism sector to actualize creative ways to engage people in travel activities even in quarantine conditions. Virtual museum tours, sightseeing activities, and other virtual or data-driven experiences entertained people and allowed tourism to stay above water in difficult times. 

With travel restrictions lifted in most countries, international tourism has bounced back with almost 250 million international arrivals in the first five months of 2022. 

Sustainable development of tourism 

Tourism provides new opportunities for growth and eye-opening experiences. However, the way people travel isn’t always sustainable. The topic of sustainable tourism was brought up in 1993 on World Tourism Day as the theme of the event was “Tourism development and environmental protection: Towards a lasting harmony.” Whether it’s travel by air, land, or water, the means of transportation aren’t eco-friendly in most cases. It’s not a secret that air travel contributes to a huge amount of CO2 as well as cars, buses, and other transportation. That is why sustainable travel has been a topical discussion over the years. And it’s not only about the means of transportation. Plastic pollution from water bottles or littering in crowded places are serious issues that arise from frequent travel possibilities and tourist-dense environments. The World Tourism Organization has addressed these issues by focusing on sustainable development through One Planet initiatives, Hotel Energy Solutions, Global Tourism Plastic Initiative, and more.

The goal of these initiatives is to create a better environment for tourists, citizens, and all other inhabitants. Tourism shouldn’t be harmful to anyone, especially to the environment. That is why sustainable development initiatives are extremely important.

Rethinking Tourism

There are many different ways to travel and experience a new environment. Some tourists are driven by new experiences, while others prefer comfortable and familiar environments like SPA centers and hotels. Whatever it may be, the way people travel impacts a country’s economic health, society, culture, ethics, innovation, sustainability, and more. It impacts many different areas, including our understanding of one another. 

This year the World Tourism Organization invites people to rethink tourism, re-imagine the sector, and develop ideas for moving forward to create a more sustainable, diverse, and prosperous future for tourism. For more information on tourism and World Tourism Day 2022, visit the World Tourism Organization.