World Travel & Tourism Council explains how ‘tourism transforms our world’ on World Tourism Day

Marking World Tourism Day celebrations today the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is highlighting the economic, social and environmental contribution of travel and tourism to sustainable development around the world.

Explaining that “tourism transforms our world”, WTTC President and Chief Executive Gloria Guevara explains “travel and tourism is a remarkable sector, it brings people from different backgrounds, culture and beliefs closer together, driving peace, in addition to the significant socioeconomic benefits to a country’s welfare and local livelihoods.

“Travel and tourism has a huge role to play in sustainable development, whilst on average global level the sector generates over 10% of the world’s GDP and supports one in 10 jobs, these figures can be, and often are, a lot higher and denser on local level. When done well, which means growing travel and tourism in a sustainable and inclusive fashion, tourism is a catalyst for job creation, community development, environmental protection and economic growth.”

The strength and beauty of how travel and tourism can impact and change people’s lives in a positive way are encompassed in the stories in WTTC’s new campaign ‘Transforming our World’.

Transforming our World provides an insight into the stories of people that operate in travel and tourism and show how the sector has transformed their world or how they use tourism to transform other people’s worlds.

Guevara added “I believe there is a real value in storytelling and as a sector this is something we can do better.

“Sharing a story is powerful, inspirational, and educational. Through our campaign I encourage other people and organisations within Travel & Tourism to share their story too.”

The current campaign stories, which come from WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow program, cover the transformational stories of people in all corners of the world - including Botswana, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and USA - and cut across education, community, nature, and wildlife.

To learn more or contribute to the Transforming our World campaign go to www.transformingour.world/awards/whats-your-story/

Main image: Temples at Borobudur, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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