 It was at its third session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979),
that the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNUNWTO) established
"World Tourism Day", commencing in the year 1980.
"World Tourism Day" is now commemorated internationally on September 27 each
year. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the
anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on the same day in 1970. So, why is
there such thing as a "World Tourism Day"? The main purpose is to point out to
the international community just how important tourism is, not to mention it's social,
cultural, political and economic value.
Events for each year are based on themes selected by the General Assembly, as recommended
by UNWTO's Executive Council. This year's theme was "Tourism Opens Doors for
Women." The Tourism and Hotel Management Departments
(THM & THS) here at Bilkent held a seminar with instructor Dr. Þermin Elmas- someone
with a strong research interest in women's labor within the tourism industry. She shared
her experiences and the findings of an empirical study she conducted for her doctoral
dissertation based on observations in the Cappadoccia area.
As always, this years event was enjoyable and informative. The THM & THS Departments
are already preparing for next year's "World Tourism Day"! In 2008, workshops
will be open to anybody interested in sharing opinions and learning more about the tourism
industry. Mark it in your calendar, and plan to attend!
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