Today, September 27, is World Tourism Day, a United Nations-designated day to talk about tourism and its impact on tourists, people in host countries, the environment and various economies.

Each year, the day has a theme, such as tourism’s contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and to peace and mutual understanding, tourism for international understanding, peace and cooperation, tourism for (economic and social) development, or tourism as a driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony.

The 2013 theme for World Tourism Day is Tourism and Water: Protecting Our Common Future,  “to raise awareness of tourism’s role in water access and shine a spotlight on the sector’s contribution to a more sustainable water future.” Events associated with this day highlight “tourism’s role in water access and shines a spotlight on the actions currently being taken by the sector in order to contribute to a more sustainable water future, as well as the challenges ahead.”

Also see my web page of links to information on the positive effects of sustainable development and alternative tourism and ways to cultivate efforts that support tourism as a part of sustainable development efforts. This is something that has been of interest to me for several years, and something I continually research on my own, as my time allows.