UN chief urges more efforts to promote sustainable development by tourism approach

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for more global efforts to tap "immense potential of tourism" to promote sustainable development and protect the Earth.

The secretary-general, in his message to mark the World Tourism Day which fell on Sunday, said, "Let us work together to maximize the immense potential of tourism to drive inclusive economic growth, protect the environment and promote sustainable development and a life of dignity for all."

"This year´s World Tourism Day highlights the global potential of tourism for socio-economic development," Ban said. "With more than one billion international tourists now travelling the world each year, tourism has become a powerful and transformative force that is making a genuine difference in the lives of millions of people."

"The potential of tourism for sustainable development is considerable," he said. "As one of the world's leading employment sectors, tourism provides important livelihood opportunities, helping to alleviate poverty and drive inclusive development."

As tourism revolves around encounters between different peoples, the sector can foster multicultural understanding and raise awareness on the need to preserve cultural and natural heritage, he said.

As the world prepares to adopt a new sustainable development agenda, tourism should be recognized for its ability to create jobs, promote local culture and products and champion the conservation and sustainable use of marine and terrestrial habitats, he added.

World Tourism Day (WTD) is celebrated annually on Sept. 27. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

In September 1979 in Torremolinos, Spain, the third session of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) General Assembly decided to establish World Tourism Day, beginning in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the WTO Statutes on Sept. 27, 1970.