MADRID, 20 July 2018: The importance of digital technologies in tourism providing opportunities for innovation will be the theme of World Tourism Day 2018, that will be celebrated in Budapest, Hungary, 27 September.
World Tourism Day, celebrated every 27 September around the world, offers an opportunity to raise awareness about tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development.
This year’s World Tourism Day will help to present the opportunities provided to tourism, by technological advances, including big data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, on the map of sustainable development.
World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) sees digital advances as part of the solution to the challenge of marrying continued growth with a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector.
“Harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda”, said UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili.
The official celebration will be held in Budapest, Hungary, a country enjoying steady tourism growth backed by consistent policy support and a commitment to the digital future. Other celebrations will take place worldwide.
At the same time UNWTO will announce the semi-finalists of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Start-up Competition, launched by UNWTO and Globalia to give visibility to start-ups with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way we travel and enjoy tourism.
