World Tourism Day 2024: Theme, History, and India's Tourism Initiatives

World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on September 27 to promote tourism’s potential to boost economic growth and foster cultural exchange. The day aims to encourage responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism for all, a mission initiated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 1980.

The day is marked by various events, including workshops, conferences, and cultural exhibitions, to encourage sustainable practices in the tourism industry. So ahead of World Tourism Day, let’s have a quick overview of the history, theme some inspiring quotes, government initiatives and more.

World Tourism Day 2024: Theme

This year, the theme for World Tourism Day is “Tourism and Peace.” Tourism plays an important role in promoting peace as it encourages cross-cultural interactions while also supporting the economies of host countries.

The more people travel, the more they encounter different cultures, resulting in greater tolerance and understanding. Moreover, tourism breaks down barriers and creates lasting bonds between nations.

World Tourism Day 2024: History

World Tourism Day was established in 1980 to commemorate the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes in 1970. This significant moment laid the foundation for the establishment of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation five years later, in 1975. Since then, the day has evolved into a global movement, bringing together governments, individuals, and businesses to highlight the advantages of tourism.

Over the decades, World Tourism Day has seen various initiatives in celebrating the potential of tourism to promote peace and sustainability and create a more inclusive and sustainable tourism industry globally.

World Tourism Day 2024: Inspiring Quotes

• “Life is short, and the world is wide.” – Simon Raven
• “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart
• “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
• “Travel makes one modest; you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
• “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
• “Travelling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –Ibn Battuta
• “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
• “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
• “The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” –Gilbert K. Chesterton
• “The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

World Tourism Day 2024: Host Country

This year, Georgia will host the World Tourism Day. With its picturesque landscapes, the country is the perfect setting to highlight how tourism fosters peace and cultural exchange. The country’s tourism sector has been growing rapidly, enticing millions of international tourists.

Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Georgia is rich in history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. It offers a unique blend of cultures, ancient churches, stunning mountain ranges, and wine regions. Earlier, countries like India, Spain and Mexico have hosted the event.

World Tourism Day 2024: Indian Tourism Statistics

The tourism industry in India has grown remarkably in the last few years. The tourist sector is expected to contribute over Rs 21.15 trillion (roughly $253 billion) to India’s GDP in 2024. This represents a notable growth over previous years. Here are some key insights from the Ministry of Tourism’s Annual Report 2023-24:

1. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)9.24 million, indicating a growth rate of 43.5 percent in comparison to the previous year (2022).
2. Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs)Rs 2,31,927 crore, a substantial increase of 65.74 percent in 2023.
3. Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs)India recorded 1,731.01 million domestic tourist visits in 2022, which helped to revitalise the industry after the pandemic.

These statistics highlight how India’s diverse offerings, rich cultural heritage and ongoing government initiatives to enhance tourism infrastructure and services are all contributing to the country’s rising prominence as a major global travel destination.

World Tourism Day 2024: Government Initiatives to Promote Tourism in India

India is all set to become the fifth-largest travel and tourism market worldwide, according to a report by Bernstein.

By 2027, the country is expected to have spent $89 billion on foreign travel, up from $38 billion in 2019.

In an unending effort to do so, the Indian government is actively working to boost the tourism sector through various initiatives and schemes.

Look below the list of key initiatives

• Swadesh Darshan Scheme: The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in 2014-15, intends to construct theme-based tourist circuits around India. A total of 73 projects have been completed for a total investment of Rs 5,294.11 crores as of 2023-24.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0: The latest version of this strategy focuses on integrated destination development, identifying 57 locations across 32 states and union territories for targeted development.
• E-Visa Facility: The e-visa program allows nationals from around 167 countries to apply online under seven categories, including e-tourist and e-business visas.
• PRASHAD Scheme: This initiative aims to improve infrastructure at pilgrimage sites. Under this PRASHAD scheme, aka Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive, a total of 46 projects have been approved so far, with Rs 1,621.13 crore assigned for their development.