Celebrate World Tourism Day

Today is World Tourism Day. How will you celebrate it? Myself, like all of you reading this, are economically dependent in one way or another on the movement of travelers from one location to the next. It is as simple as that. Established in 1980, the purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals. The timing of World Tourism Day is particularly appropriate, as it is celebrated at the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere, when tourism is on the minds of millions of people worldwide.

Believe it or not, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, our industry accounts for 9 percent of the world's gross domestic product and 260 million jobs. Travel and tourism is larger than the automotive sector and just behind the banking industry. "Today, on World Tourism Day, we call on governments around the world to recognise the central role that our industry plays in their economies today, as well as its leading role as a driver of global sustainable economic recovery," said David Scowsill, president & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the total number of tourists will surpass 1.6 billion by the year 2020. In 2009 international tourist arrivals were estimated at 880 million.

As you ponder the economic importance of tourism around the world, think also about what our industry can do on a large scale to reduce its environmental impact. Having almost twice as many people traveling by 2020 is alarming if we don't figure out a way to travel more efficiently. We have the airline and automotive industries to count on to help us there but we can pressure them to move toward sustainability with our purchasing decisions. What we in the lodging industry can really help control is the environmental impact travelers have once they reach our destinations. I write about steps we can take to reduce energy consumption, water consumption and waste every day. Today, on World Tourism Day, pledge to do even more to reduce your property's environmental impact. Be sure to share your success stories with me.