“Tourism and Green Investment”: Theme of World Tourism Day 2023

World Tourism Day 2023 is held under the theme "Tourism and Green Investment" to call for increased investment in tourism to meet sustainable development requirements in the new situation.

Held annually on September 27, World Tourism Day is a global event aimed at raising international awareness of the role, position and importance of tourism in cultural, economic, social and political life.

This year, World Tourism Day will be celebrated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with over 100 member countries attending. In Riyadh, UNWTO will host a series of high-level seminars focusing on the challenges and opportunities surrounding investment in tourism.

World Tourism Day 2023. (Photo: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

At the invitation of the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, a delegation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will attend the celebration in this country. Here, Vietnam will affirm to the international community its goals and commitments to develop tourism in a green and sustainable direction as stated in the national tourism development strategies and projects.

Over the past two years, the Vietnamese tourism industry has chosen the Green tourism theme for the National Tourism Year. In particular, the 2022 National Tourism Year has the theme “Quang Nam - Green Tourism Destination” and the 2023 National Tourism Year has the theme “Binh Thuan - Green Convergence”.

"Binh Thuan - Green Convergence" is the theme of National Tourism Year 2023. (Photo: Binh Thuan Provincial Tourism Information Center)

This is a message that affirms the consistent policy and direction of unified action, connecting all localities, destinations, businesses and stakeholders in the industry to develop tourism in a green and sustainable direction in the new era.

According to the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili, tourism has the potential to contribute to solving some of the world's biggest challenges today such as climate change, contributing to the transformation to a more sustainable development model.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is trying to accelerate recovery. With the theme “Tourism and Green Investment”, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili affirmed that tourism has great power. That power does not come naturally. On the contrary, tourism needs to be supported, first of all, it needs to be invested.

In order to call for increased investment in tourism to meet the requirements of sustainable development, he suggested: "We need to rethink the way of investing in tourism, creating more favorable conditions to attract investment in tourism projects with great potential to make a difference."

Describing the theme of World Tourism Day 2023 as very relevant in the current situation, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted the need for green investment to build a tourism industry that benefits people and the planet.

“Today, climate change is threatening many tourism destinations as well as the survival of communities and economies that depend on tourism. Many developing countries that are heavily affected by climate change are also facing a decline in investment and an increase in the cost of living,” the UN Secretary-General informed.

In this context, Mr. António Guterres called on governments and businesses to increase investment in sustainable tourism activities. Accordingly, the private sector needs to follow a path of net zero emissions, reduce energy consumption and take advantage of renewable energy forms. Communities need to join hands to protect biodiversity and ecological balance in all destinations.

“Investing in sustainable tourism is investing in a better future for all,” stressed Mr. António Guterres.

Mai Anh