The world is emerging from a decade of significant change in the global travel industry, and today we’re about three weeks away from World Tourism Day, a day set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WNWTO) to ponder the state of tourism. It’s particularly important stakeholders in the industry and citizens alike pay attention this year.

From 2012 to 2019 the world saw record growth in tourism and the rise of ‘overtourism’, then the pandemic hit and 2020 to 2022 saw the industry’s darkest days. 

We now stand at the perfect time to reimagine what travel and tourism will look like going forward. So World Tourism Day 2022 on September 27th will be our chance to change the future for the better

With the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism’, the International Day of Observance will this year focus on re-imagining the sector’s growth, both in terms of size and relevance. The Republic of Indonesia will host the official day (27 September), though all UNWTO Member States, as well as non-members and stakeholders from across the private sector, are being invited to host their own celebrations as well as to promote the day and its central theme. 

For its 42nd edition, World Tourism Day will be hosted by Indonesia, in Bali, a destination • at the forefront of reimagining tourism as a pillar of sustainable development.

Tourism’s International Observance Day will put people • at the centre of key discussions. Where is tourism going? Where do we want to go? And how do we get there? The one-day celebration will bring together stakeholders from every part of tourism’s uniquely broad value chain – from political and private sector leaders to community representatives, and youth and indigenous ambassadors.

The event will develop around a multi-stakeholder panel discussion on “Rethinking Tourism as a Key Element of Recovery”, as well as a discussion on “The Tourism We Want”, led by local representatives from across Bali’s tourism sector. 

The potential of tourism is enormous, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure it is fully realized

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “The potential of tourism is enormous, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure it is fully realized. On World Tourism Day 2022, UNWTO calls on everyone, from tourism workers to tourists themselves, as well as small businesses, large corporations and governments to reflect and rethink what we do and how we do it.”

World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO five years later.