World Tourism Day 2018

The World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27th worldwide by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

If 2017 theme has been “Sustainable tourism as a tool for development” in line with the General Assembly of the United Nations, 2018 World Tourism Day will focus on innovation & digital transformation.

This year edition will be officially held in Budapest, Hungary with the aim to raise awareness on technologies and opportunities in the tourism industry among all operators with the mutual interest of helping the sector prepare for future of work on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development.

Keeping in mind tourism big influence thanks to its social, political, financial and also cultural effect, worth, and value, UNTWO aims to feature and recognize the commitment the tourism industry denotes in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism will continue to grow at an annual rate of 3% until 2030, despite challenges such as the global economic crisis, natural disasters, and pandemics. In fact, its growth has roots in the progressive expansion of the access to the tourism market, thanks to a growing middle classes purchase power worldwide and the decrease of the price of transport, air transport above all.

Sustainability & digital transformation in tourism: at 2018 World Tourism Day 2018

The World Tourism Day is an opportunity for dialogue between the major representatives of world tourism: the day is dedicated to discuss, debate and plan initiatives with Sustainability and Innovation as a priority.

“Harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment, and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda“, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, following Taleb Rifai’s steps on the topic.

Credits: World Tourism Day, UNWTO

Being sustainability the key pillar of UNWTO‘s World Tourism Day 2018, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in partnership with Globalia, the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America, announced the launch of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, devoted to identifying new companies that will lead the transformation of the tourism sector in 164 countries and committed to enhancing sustainability in tourism.

#TravelEnjoyRespect is the closing hashtag used in the video to stress the importance of tourism as a way to enjoy a destination while being respectful, which is a mindset that should come along with a last hashtag such as #Repeat.

World Tourism Day in Italy

World Tourism Day is celebrated in Italy with a wide range of local initiatives, such as in Rome, where Vatican Museums will be open for free for this occasion; another celebration will be held in San Marino, where the municipality has organized plenty of activities to promote awareness within the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

“The competitiveness of tourism – says Silvana Magali Rocco, Head of UPI (Intercultural Popular University)’s Tourism Department – is closely related to its sustainability as the quality of tourist destinations depends to a considerable extent on the quality of the environment, culture and integration with local communities” together with the “Responsible use of natural resources, consideration of the environmental impact of activities (waste production, pressure on water, soil and biodiversity, etc..), the use of “clean” energies”.

FindYourItaly: where Innovation meets sustainability

Sustainability and innovation are at the very heart of what we do here at FindYourItaly, the leading DMC provider for true Italian experiences.

FindYourItaly was created to help with foreign travel agencies to offer customers the most engaging and genuine holidays experiences in Italy, both in iconic sites as well as off the beaten track locations.

Being partners with the Italian Responsible Tourism Association, we encourage sustainable and green tourism by constantly looking for partners that will help us to drive the change and encourage the application of globally sustainable tourism criteria, in the leisure travel industry as well as in the Mice vertical. We already work with international partners such as our Swedish partner Ecolyx.

As 360° DMC service provider, FindYourItaly will help you create the perfect trip or holiday in Italy according to the sustainable tourism guidelines. From the culture and taste of northern Italy tour to the grand tour of Sicily among vineyards, we at FindYourItaly aim to offer travelers a wide range of hand-picked genuine unforgettable Italian experiences.

Click here to get in touch with our experienced team to find the perfect sustainable travel offer for your customers or contact us at: contact@findyouritaly.com