As the United Nations General Assembly stated when announcing the designation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, tourism has a key role to play in contributing to each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The sector not only leads world economic growth, but it also improves the quality of people's lives. It can strengthen the protection of the environment, defend the diverse cultural heritage and strengthen peace in the world.

In this spirit, World Tourism Day 2017 offers a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among decision makers in the public and private sectors and within the international community.

Celebration of World Tourism Day 2017

According to the UNWTO General Assembly, the official celebration of World Tourism Day 2017 will be held in Doha, Qatar, in the framework of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The meeting will be a unique opportunity to increase the awareness of the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among stakeholders in the public and private sectors and the public, while mobilizing all stakeholders to work together to make tourism a catalyst for positive change.

In the context of the Universal Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the International Year aims to support a change in policies and business practices to a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute to the 17 SDG. The official celebration of World Tourism Day (WTD) 2017 will take place in Doha, Qatar, on the following key areas of IY2017:

(1) Inclusive and sustainable economic growth;

(2) Social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction;

(3) Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change;

(4) Cultural values, diversity and heritage; and

(5) Mutual understanding, peace and security.

Among the many personalities who will attend the event and participate in the debate, is the Director of the Responsible Tourism Institute, Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada. With 1,800 million international tourists expected to travel the world by 2030, four to five times the number traveling in their own countries, it is essential to ensure the measuring and managing of the impact of tourism in all its dimensions - economic, social and environmental. This will be the conceptual framework in which the Responsible Tourism Institute will participate in the panel discussion "Special session on Tourism and the Planet: committed to greener future" from 12:00 to 13:00.

To learn more about the celebration of World Tourism Day 2017, click on this link.