As the world gets a little more connected and at the same time more polarized, the international tourism family will once again gather for World Tourism Day on the 27th of September, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The theme for this year is “Tourism and Peace” which seeks to bring into light on how tourism can help in enhancing the relations between countries.

When the representatives of public and private sectors come together, they will focus on the topic of sustainable tourism that will help improve the relations between different cultures.

It is an opportunity for leaders to discuss the challenges that affect the industry such as climate change and the issue of accessibility of tourism. As the world gradually moves towards the post-pandemic era, World Tourism Day offers hope and ideas and practices that promote the right balance in travel and tourism that will benefit all the communities.

As countries gradually welcome tourists from other countries, the focus on unity and cooperation is even more important in restoring interconnections in the global tourism environment. The meeting in Tbilisi will demonstrate how tourism can be used as a mechanism for reconciling the society, for people of different ethnic backgrounds and for creating a platform for communication.

Speakers will also present their recommendations on how to support the sustainable tourism that will not have adverse effects on the cultures and territories of the visited countries and will bring economic benefits. Topics will include the contribution of tourism towards reconciliation in conflict affected societies and how the sector can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The event will also present best practices of the use of tourism for the purpose of promoting peace across the globe. These examples include community-based tourism that enhances the rights of local communities to cross-border tourism that promotes cooperation between neighboring countries and will be useful for policy makers and other industry players.

In the current world, there are various challenges that are facing the world such as climate change and geopolitical tensions, and this makes the role of tourism in enhancing the understanding of other people’s cultures very crucial. The World Tourism Day 2024 will encourage the young generation of travelers and tourism workers to look beyond the business aspect of tourism and consider themselves as the promoters of peace and culture interchange.

The event in Tbilisi will end with a demand addressed to the world tourism industry to follow the principles of peace, sustainability and openness. This event will be remembered for a long time and the lessons and initiatives that have come from it will be invaluable in the future of global tourism and its possibilities to be a positive force in the world.