World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day

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Last updated:
27.09.2018

Have you ever wondered whether it was curiosity and drive for adventure that made people discover America, Siberia, the moon? Since ancient times thousands of valiant travelers left their homes and set off on long voyages in order to find new lands and to perpetuate their names in history.

Are you an adventure lover striving for new emotions and valuable experiences as well? If the answer is “yes”, congratulations, you have a reason for a celebration today! Happy World Tourism Day!

Where to Travel?

When it comes to holiday, every traveler faces the serious “where-to-go-this-time” dilemma as our planet has an infinite number of treasures waiting for you to explore.

To try authentic French croissant near the Eiffel Tower, to walk along the legendary Great Wall of China, to observe the Northern Lights and meet Santa Claus in Lapland, to enjoy a Tanzania safari like in the “Lion King” movie, to climb an active volcano Etna in the heart of Sicily… the choice is truly impressive. However, according to surveys, the most popular destination for travelers from all over the world was and remains Europe.

It is pretty understandable due to the fact that the European continent contains 50 countries, each with its unique culture, rich history, and unsurpassed cuisine.

If you read our “Month in Review” posts, you know that the most traveled European destinations include wonderful Italy, sun-kissed Spain, and mysterious Scandinavian countries. In addition, recently more and more travelers choose Russia for their getaway, setting off on outstanding Russian tours and river cruises or, the bravest and most adventurous ones, on long-distance, yet epic Trans-Siberian journeys.

Top 10 Most Traveled European Countries:

  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • United Kingdom
  • Turkey
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Greece
  • Russia
  • Portugal

History of World Tourism Day

Being an international festive event, World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on September 27th. But what are the roots of the holiday and how do people celebrate it? Let’s figure it out, plunging into the pages of its history.

The date was established by the UN World Tourism Organization in 1979, and the event’s emergence can be explained by the importance of tourism, its social, economic and cultural value as well as the contribution it makes to the world’s prosperity.

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy which has gained global scale. More and more people desire to explore foreign cultures and traditions, and World Tourism Day is dedicated to supporting the idea that everyone has the right to enjoy the amazing diversity our beautiful planet has in store.

Yellow Bus on the Road

The choice of the date was determined by the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970. Moreover, the day conditionally symbolizes the end of the high tourist season in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the Southern one. As a rule, World Tourism Day is celebrated with some festive events, conferences, festivals, and concerts, corresponding to the themes selected through the UNWTO General Assembly.

Date of Celebration
Being an international festive event, World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on September 27th.

Why Traveling is Beneficial?

People have different motivation why to take a break, pack their bags, and set off on a journey. But even scientists have already proven that traveling provides lots of advantages. We must admit that traveling is an indispensable part of our life which makes it more multifaceted and colorful, so here are some main pros of tourism (we bet, some of which you may not even know about).

Traveling provides personal growth. This is a pretty obvious one, but it is true that going abroad contributes to self-development and broadens our horizons. When we are in an unfamiliar ambiance, we have the opportunity to understand ourselves better, find out our own limits, and learn how to overcome complicating situations. As a result, we become more experienced, knowledgeable, and stress-tolerant.

Traveling makes you healthier. Doctors have proven that those who travel are at lower risk of heart attacks. This effect is achieved due to changing the type of activity: the body has a break from routine work, the mood improves, the negative impact of stress disappears. An absolutely win-win situation! Moreover, according to statistics, workers become more creative and productive in their job after the holiday. So if you are tired or have a creative crisis, pack your bags!

Beach Vacation

Traveling helps to cope with depression. It’s natural that everybody needs a change of scenery from time to time. And it doesn’t have to be a long trip. The most important thing is having new impressions that can switch your attention from some upset thoughts to the new environment.

Traveling enriches your relationships. If you want to put a sparkle into your relationship with your soulmate, go on a trip together. Such journeys help to establish mutual understanding, learn to cooperate and listen to each other. Be sure that searching for bright impressions in different corners of the planet promotes the renewal of relations, allows you to look at your soulmate from a different angle, and maybe even fall in love again.

Mountain Scenery

Traveling has a positive impact on your brain. At the physical level, creativity is associated with the neuroplasticity of the brain. Since the neural connections depend on our habits and the environment we live in, they can change under the influence of "changing places". New sounds, smells, tastes, and discoveries can stimulate interneuronal synapses and increase the flexibility of the mind and the depth of thinking.

Fun Facts about Traveling by Plane

Being the safest mean of transport, planes are also one of the most popular and convenient ways to travel as they turn trans-continental journeys a matter of several hours. Have you noticed some interesting effects you experience during your flight? If you prefer getting from one destination to another, you’ll be entertained by the last part of our post, where we would like to highlight several things connected with planes that can surprise you.

Can you imagine that, on average, there are from 11 to 13 thousand “iron birds” flying in the sky every day?

What is more, if you are one of those who is actually inside such “bird”, just know that you breathe in the cleanest and freshest air as the filtration systems installed onboard are even more powerful than those used in hospitals.

Plane

As for the food, which is the favorite part of the flight for many travelers, some people argue that the same dish at a restaurant on the ground and onboard the plane has different tastes!

How is that actually possible? Well, this is how our bodies react to the unusual environment during take-off and the flight itself, rebuilding our taste buds. Already feel like it’s time for your next flight abroad, huh?

Interesting Fact
Shockingly, on average, there are from 11 to 13 thousand planes flying in the sky every day!

Summing up, the rapidly increasing interest in the touristic sector and its fast development have changed our lives completely as now we have an amazing opportunity to explore even the most remote corners of our planet. We hope that you love traveling as much as we do and this piece has inspired or motivated you not to deprive yourself of the pleasure to set off on an adventure and start planning your future trip right now! Happy World Tourism Day!