World Tourism Day 2024: Tourism and Peace
Tourism as a Catalyst for Peace
The UN Tourism has announced the theme for World Tourism Day 2024 as “Tourism and Peace.” This year’s event will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on September 27.
The United Nation’s specialised agency for tourism emphasises the crucial role tourism can play in fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures.
It highlights tourism’s potential to support reconciliation processes and contribute to building blocks of peace, such as social justice, human rights, economic equity, and sustainable development.
As the UN Tourism states, “Tourism’s biggest strength, besides being an economic powerhouse, brings people together in non-adversarial circumstances.”
This can promote peace through cultural exchange, understanding, and tolerance. However, tourism must consider supplier and consumer perspectives to effectively foster peace, as suggested by UN Tourism.
The UN Tourism also recognises the potential of tourism to drive economic growth and innovation. By encouraging entrepreneurship and creative solutions, tourism can create opportunities for young people and contribute to sustainable development.
“By investing in youth, providing education and training opportunities, and encouraging their active participation in the tourism sector […] Young talent brings fresh perspectives, creativity, and energy that are essential for the continuous evolution of tourism as a force for good.“
World Tourism Day 2024 aims to explore how tourism can catalyse peacebuilding – worldwide. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors, the event seeks to generate innovative ideas and strategies for promoting peace and reconciliation through tourism.
