World Tourism Day is held annually on 27 September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. As frequent travelers, we at the Omar Niode Foundation would like to celebrate the day by sharing some information from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. 

Tourism – an Economic and Social Phenomenon 

The business volume of tourism today equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, ‎food products or automobiles. Tourism has become one of the major players in ‎international commerce, and represents at the same time one of the main income ‎sources for many developing countries. In 2011 international tourism generated US$ 1,032 billion (€ 741 billion) in export earnings with tourist arrivals grew by nearly 4% to 983 million.

With one billion international tourists expected to travel in a single year in 2012, it is now the time to commit to a more sustainable tourism sector and a sustainable future for all; hence Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development as the theme for World Tourism Day 2012. 

Energy solutions

The tourism industry is where the world’s most ambitious and innovative clean energy solutions can be identified: the aviation industry is implementing cutting-edge technologies to make aircraft lighter than ever before; commercial flights are beginning to use biofuels in their fuel mix; key card systems and energy saving light bulbs are increasingly being implemented in hotel rooms worldwide; and tour operators are asking for energy efficiency throughout their supply chains.   

Clean energy solutions in tourism are bringing the sector’s carbon emissions down, protecting local environments and communities, carrying modern energy services to the world’s poor, cutting costs for businesses and creating jobs and economic opportunities.

Celebrate World Tourism Day

Maspalomas at the Gran Canary Islands in Spain is hosting this year’s celebration of World Tourism Day (WTD). The events on the day will feature an encounter with the authorities, and a special homage to tourists with a program of street activities during which free gifts will be handed out to visitors. All week long there will be musical performances and the chance to sample the typical gastronomy of the Canary Islands.

Here are some ideas for you to celebrate the World Tourism Day:

Spread the word

The WTD website is a place to inspire you with resources resources you can use to spread the word about the 2012 theme. WTD logo and banner are also online and can be downloaded for the web and printing. Follow @UNWTO on twiter to join the conversation through the hashtag #WTD2012 

Make a commitment

WTD 2012 is the perfect time to change your energy habits and make a commitment to a brighter energy future. If you are a traveler, simple steps such as switching off the lights in your hotel rooms and unplugging appliances when not in use can make a huge difference. Tour operators and transport industry, commit to using renewable energy sources to supply power to lodgings and vehicles. Hoteliers, calculate your carbon footprint and use energy efficient technologies.

Hold an event

Concerts, festivals, shows and parades are a great way to take part. Official WTD celebrations, including the Think Tank on the 2012 theme with the participation of top experts in the field of tourism and energy, will be streamed live on the WTD website.  

Launch a competition

A competition – essays, paintings, videos – on tourism and sustainable energy is a fun and simple way to get involved in World Tourism Day. UNWTO is running WTD Photo Competition and  WTD Twitter Competition.

Take a trip

Celebrate WTD by being a tourist and do not miss reading the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism before you go to make sure your trip is as sustainable and responsible as possible.   

Meanwhile, we are proud to inform you that in Pangandaran, a popular coastal tourism destination in West Java province, Indonesia a project called STREAM (Sustainable Tourism through Energy Efficiency with Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Pangandaran) adopts an energy efficiency approach, while strengthening local structures for the sustainability of this tourism destination.

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Photos: Maira Niode, STREAM, TURESPAÑA, Garuda Indonesia, Bali Province, UNWTO