A strawberry field is a tourist attraction in Kon Plong of the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has chosen “Tourism and Rural Development” for the 2020 edition of the World Tourism Day on September 27, according to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (VNAT).
With the theme, the UNWTO aims to highlight the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities in rural areas and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world.
Vietnam’s tourism sector is building a thorough recovery plan in keeping with market trends. A survey on demands and consumption trend of Vietnamese tourists is underway.
Meanwhile, the VNAT is preparing for another tourism stimulus targeting domestic holidaymakers as the pandemic has been brought under control.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said that the World Tourism Day is a chance to recognise the role tourism outside major cities and its ability to build a better future for all.
“All around the world, tourism empowers rural communities, providing jobs and opportunity, most notably for women and youth. Tourism also enables rural communities to hold onto their unique cultural heritage and traditions, and the sector is vital for safeguarding habitat and endangered species,” he added.
For numerous rural communities around the world, tourism is a leading provider of employment and opportunities. In many places, it is one of the few viable economic sectors, offering young people a chance to earn a living without having to migrate either within their home countries or abroad.
Communities in rural areas also struggle with impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These communities are usually much less-prepared to deal with the short- and longer-term impact of the crisis, and tourism offers a solution to all of these challenges.
For the first time in the 40-year history of the World Tourism Day, the official celebration will not be hosted by a single nation. Instead, five nations of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile joining with observer status, will serve as joint hosts.
This co-hosting agreement exemplifies the spirit of international solidarity that runs through tourism./.
