World Tourism Day, September 27, concentrates on the two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the twenty-first century, technology and nature. The creator of the annual event, the World Tourism Organization, says “as we enter the twenty-first century, the world will be increasingly characterized by the penetration of technology in all aspects of our life. In this respect, tourism is inevitably becoming an essential user of the main innovative technologies.”
While new developments in transportation technology will improve mobility, says the organization, safety and comfort of tourists travelling by any mode of transport, telecommunications and information technologies will radically change the commercial strategies of tourism institutions and businesses, as well as offer new ways of promoting tourism destinations.
Development of new technologies is not in contradiction with the protection of nature, rather it is the precise of advanced technologies that can contribute to the protection of the natural environment, says the organization. “There is, for instance, a growing interest within the tourism sector in new environmental technologies for both saving vital resources like water and energy and using alternative and renewable forms of energy and water supply.” The World Tourism Organization officially celebrates 21st World Tourism Day at the EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany, Wednesday, September 27.
The host country for World Tourism Day, a host country is designated each as the Organization’s partner for commemorating World Tourism Day, is Germany. Last year Chile held the honor and next year Iran does so.