On the occasion of World Tourism Day today, I convey my greetings and good wishes to the entire Tourism Fraternity.
Today’s World Tourism Day holds special significance because, with Covid pandemic having paralysed the ecosystem of Travel & Tourism, all over the globe, World Tourism Day 2020 is a good opportunity for global tourism fraternity to come together, collaborate and cooperate with each other in order to fight the Covid menace, mitigate its effects and fast track the growth of Tourism sector.
We are now in an age, where a small event happening in the remotest part of the world has an impact on the entire tourism world. ‘’One World- One Tourism’’ is the biggest take away for the entire global tourism fraternity, after the Covid crisis. The World, over last 9 months, has also witnessed how, all nations have fought the Covid menace together with mutual support & help. The mutual cooperation was not limited at the level of Governments but was also seen among the corporate, health professionals and among people. Sharing the services of medical professionals and health related technologies among nations are some examples. Today also, a large number of countries are working in collaboration with each other to develop a vaccine against Covid for the sake of entire global community.
‘Collaboration, and not Confrontation’ and ‘Cooperation, and not Competition’ would therefore be the best policy to move forward in the ‘New Global Order’ and in the ‘New Normal’
It is true that the world had already started considering itself as a ‘global family’, thanks to digital, internet and communication technologies ; e- market platforms and the social media. Tourism, however has so far been the biggest contributor to bring the global family together. Tourism is important for the world not just because of its social, cultural and economic value, but also because, it is the easiest and safest way to bring people to people contact and to bring peace. If a soldier crosses border and enters into another country, it may bring war, but when a tourist crosses any international border , it brings harmony and peace. On the World Tourism Day today, let us therefore spread awareness among the international community that when it comes to tourism, the ‘World is One’.
UNWTO has designated 2020 as the year of ‘Tourism & Rural Development’. Let us therefore celebrate WTD 2020, by resolving to bring ‘Rural Tourism’ to the centre stage of global tourism. India has a rich ‘Rural Resource’ and therefore, let us promote rural development in our country through tourism and make India a ‘ Global Rural Tourism Hub ‘.
Let us also hope that the World Tourism Day today, will mark the beginning of the ‘Revival’ & ‘Rebouncing’ process of travel & tourism sector in India and all over the world.
Wishing one and all, A 
.
