The World Tourism Organization is excited to announce its third annual online photo competition to commemorate World Tourism Day 2009.
World Tourism Day is a thematic event that is held every year on the 27th of September. This year’s theme is “Tourism: Celebrating Diversity” and the host country is Ghana.

This year’s theme focuses on the world’s cultural wealth and the important role sustainable tourism plays in revitalizing local traditions and making them flourish as they cross other cultures.

A huge variety of local customs co-exist all over the world, be they languages, religions, architecture, food, politics or natural environments. This diverse environment has allowed the travel and tourism industry to thrive and become the largest single export industry and a leading force in the service sector.

Every region of the world is distinct and thus has something both to offer and gain through travel and tourism, particularly less developed nations. It is the responsibility of industry stakeholders to harness these opportunities whilst facing the long term challenges engendered by travel and tourism.

‘Tourism – Celebrating Diversity’ highlights this varied environment which is at the very centre of tourism.

Diversity has indeed been the motor behind travel and tourism for centuries.