World Tourism Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1979 in Torremolinos, Spain, and has been celebrated annually on September 27. This date was chosen deliberately, as it was on September 27, 1970, that the UNWTO Statute was adopted, marking an important milestone in the institutionalization of international cooperation in the field of tourism. The goal of World Tourism Day is to raise awareness of the role of tourism in the socio-economic development of nations, to strengthen intercultural dialogue, and to promote the principles of sustainable tourism.
Today, tourism is regarded not only as a form of leisure but also as a significant factor in economic diversification, job creation, and regional infrastructure development. In his Address to the People of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the priority areas for the development of the tourism industry. The comprehensive development of infrastructure has been assigned to regional akimats, while at the central level the focus is on attracting international tourists and improving the legislative framework. State policy in the field of tourism is considered a long-term tool for increasing the country’s investment appeal.
Kazakhstan possesses considerable potential for developing a competitive tourism product. Among the key factors are its unique natural diversity, the cultural and historical heritage of the Great Silk Road, and the growth of modern clusters of domestic and inbound tourism.
As part of World Tourism Day, the Higher School of Economics invites everyone to a series of events, including a guest lecture, a visit to a tourism exhibition, a quiz, a contest for the best video on the “Tourism” educational program, and much more.
You can view the Tourism Week program at the link: Program