World Tourism Day is on 27 September. It promotes the role of tourism in jobs, culture and understanding between countries.
The date is 27 September.
How to use the World Tourism Day Countdown#
- Open the page. The world tourism day countdown starts as soon as the page loads and follows the clock on your device.
- Pick which one. Stay on the next World Tourism Day, or look a year further ahead.
- Read the date. World Tourism Day is on 27 September every year. The weekday is listed under the big number.
Why 27 September#
The date marks the adoption of the statutes of the World Tourism Organization on 27 September 1970, now the UN Tourism agency. The day has been celebrated since 1980, and each year a host country and a theme are chosen. Tourism accounts for a significant share of jobs and income in many countries, so the day is used to discuss sustainable and responsible travel.
For travellers and businesses#
For travellers, late September is the start of the shoulder season in many places, with lower prices and smaller crowds. For hotels, tour guides and tourism boards, the day is a chance to promote local attractions. If you’re planning a trip, check visa and vaccination rules early, since they can take weeks.
When is World Tourism Day in the next few years?#
World Tourism Day is on 27 September every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 27 September | Monday |
| 2028 | 27 September | Wednesday |
| 2029 | 27 September | Thursday |
| 2030 | 27 September | Friday |
| 2031 | 27 September | Saturday |
Tourism by the numbers#
Before 2020 international tourism had grown for a decade, reaching about 1.5 billion arrivals in 2019. The pandemic caused the sharpest fall on record, and the UN tourism agency reports that arrivals have since recovered close to, or above, earlier levels. Tourism provides a large share of jobs and export income in places such as small island states, and many African economies see it as a route to growth.
Responsible travel#
The theme of recent years has often been sustainable tourism. Simple choices help: staying in locally owned places, hiring local guides, buying from craft markets, taking trains where they exist and staying longer in fewer places. Water and energy use per tourist can be high in dry or remote destinations, so asking a hotel what it does is a fair question.
Nigeria has a lot to offer, from Yankari Game Reserve and Olumo Rock to the Osun-Osogbo festival, and domestic travel is growing. A countdown to the day is a good prompt to plan a trip at home.
Planning travel around the date#
Late September is the start of the shoulder season in much of the northern hemisphere. Crowds thin and prices drop. In 2027 the date falls on a Monday.
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 10 weeks out | Check passport validity and visa rules | Mon 19 July 2027 |
| 6 weeks out | Book flights and the first nights | Mon 16 August 2027 |
| 2 weeks out | Arrange insurance and any vaccinations | Mon 13 September 2027 |
Passports often need to be valid for six months after arrival, and visas can take several weeks, so start with the paperwork.
Facts about travel and tourism#
- Tourism accounted for roughly one in ten jobs worldwide before 2020, according to industry bodies, and it is a larger share in island nations.
- The UN tourism agency is based in Madrid and has 160 or so member states.
- France has long been the most visited country in the world, followed by Spain and the United States.
- Domestic tourism is much larger than international travel in most countries, including Nigeria, where it is growing.
If you are budgeting for a trip, our days between dates calculator counts nights and working days for you, and the tip calculator helps when you travel somewhere with a tipping culture. The day falls shortly after International Literacy Day in September, in what is a busy week for UN observances.
Frequently asked questions#
27 September.
The UN Tourism agency, formerly the World Tourism Organization.
Tourism supports many jobs, and the day encourages responsible travel.
It is travel that takes full account of its effects on the economy, the community and the environment. In practice that means using locally owned businesses, respecting local customs, saving water and energy, avoiding wildlife attractions that harm animals, and visiting at quieter times of year. Staying longer in one place instead of rushing through many is one of the simplest ways to cut your impact.