Historical background of World Tourism Day

Mexico, the host country of World Tourism Day 1998-2009

As early as 1971, the International Union of Official Tourism Organizations, the predecessor of the World Tourism Organization, proposed the creation of this organization based on the opinions of official tourism organizations of African countries. Holiday ideas. After a lot of preparation work, in September 1979, the Third Congress of the World Tourism Organization officially decided that September 27 would be World Tourism Day. The reason for choosing this day is that the International Union of Official Tourism Organizations adopted the charter of the World Tourism Organization to be established at a special congress in Mexico City on September 27, 1970, so it is worth commemorating. In addition, this day happens to be when the peak tourist season in the northern hemisphere has just passed and the tourist season in the southern hemisphere has just arrived. That is to say, this is a good time for people from all over the world to take a vacation. Since 1980, relevant countries have organized a series of celebration activities every year, such as issuing stamps, holding postcard exhibitions, launching new tourist routes, and opening up new tourist spots.

The significance of World Tourism Day is to develop international and domestic tourism, promote cultural, artistic, economic and trade exchanges among countries, enhance mutual understanding among people of various countries, and promote social progress. The World Tourism Organization puts forward promotional slogans every year, and tourism organizations around the world carry out activities based on the promotional slogans and requirements.

Since 1985, China has set up main venues in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenyang and other cities, and set up branch venues across the country to hold activities to celebrate World Tourism Day. Carry out tourism promotion activities around the tourism activity themes determined by the World Tourism Organization that year.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) will hold the 24th "World Tourism Day" event in Algeria. This year's theme is "Tourism: a driving force for poverty eradication, job creation and social harmony." WTO Secretary-General Frangali pointed out that the purpose of the World Tourism Organization in choosing this theme is to fully support the international community’s goals of eradicating poverty in the 21st century set by the United Nations, and at the same time further demonstrate the role of tourism in poverty eradication, job creation and social harmony. positive effect.