September 27 — World Tourism Day: history, traditions, how to congratulate

Every year on September 27, Russia and the world celebrate World Tourism Day, a professional holiday for specialists who turn map coordinates and travel dreams into well—planned routes. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the history and significance of the profession, traditions of celebration and creative gifts in the Izvestia article.

World Tourism Day 2025: the history of the holiday

World Tourism Day was officially established in 1979 at the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The date for its annual holding was September 27, in memory of the adoption of the UNWTO charter nine years earlier.

However, the idea of international coordination in the field of tourism arose long before the establishment of an official holiday. In 1925, the International Congress of Official Tourism Organizations began in The Hague, focusing on the systematization of tourism activities and the formation of an economic model of the industry. Subsequently, it became the basis for the creation of the UNWTO, operating under the auspices of the United Nations.

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The holiday was conceived as a tool to draw attention to tourism as an important element of socio-economic development, responsible not only for creating jobs, but also for stimulating cultural exchange and creating a positive image of countries in the international arena.

World Tourism Day was first celebrated in 1980. Since then, it has been held annually in more than 150 countries. In the USSR, it began to be celebrated in 1983. To this day, Russia continues to participate in the celebration, despite withdrawing from the UNWTO in 2022.

Traditions of celebrating World Tourism Day

Every year, the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization determines the main theme of the holiday and the country that will become its international venue, where conferences, forums and round tables are traditionally held with the participation of representatives of the tourism industry, global challenges, trends and strategies for tourism development are discussed.

The theme of the holiday usually focuses on key issues of sustainable growth — investments, ecology, digitalization, cultural identity. For example, in 2024, Tbilisi became the main venue for events held under the motto "Tourism and Peace". This year, Malaysia has been chosen as the center of the celebration, and the theme is "Tourism and Sustainable Transformation."

Celebrations dedicated to World Tourism Day are also held in Russia on September 27. Exhibitions, seminars, lectures, and business meetings are organized. Excursions and presentations of tourist routes are held in large cities.

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Travel companies hold special promotions, offer discounts on tours, and launch media projects. Famous travelers and bloggers share photos, publish route reviews, and talk about their own travel experiences.

Who and how to congratulate on September 27th — best wishes

On this day, congratulations on a professional holiday are received by employees of travel agencies, guides, representatives of the hotel business, university professors related to tourism, students of specialized specialties, logistics operators and other specialists who contribute to the development of the industry. Izvestia has prepared several examples of how this can be done.

Five original greetings for World Tourism Day:

1. "Congratulations on World Tourism Day! We wish that each new project opens up horizons not only on the map, but also in the profession. Let life, as an ideal route, be based on a clear plan and at the same time give unforgettable impressions!"
2. "Congratulations on the day of tourism, the holiday of those who make the world closer! Even if the most difficult logistical tasks are solved easily, each new project opens up new opportunities, gets market recognition, and life moves with the comfort of business class."
3. "Congratulations on the holiday to those who know the value of distances and know how to turn kilometers into trust, and directions into experience. Let the geography grow, and your route always passes through three main coordinates — stable demand, steady traffic and high-quality service. Happy World Tourism Day!"
4. "You are the ones who connect cities, countries and cultures! We wish you perfect logistics, stable partners and grateful customers. May every step you take in your profession open the way to new destinations — tourism and career. Happy World Tourism Day!"
5. "Congratulations on your professional holiday! Tourism is not just an industry, but a way of thinking. You are creating a space for cultural and business interaction between countries. We wish you strategic growth, reliable connections and high ratings from customers."

Creative gifts for World Tourism Day

• A personal wall map of the world with an engraved company name or name, where you can mark the countries or regions visited.;
• branded Tourist mini kit — original set with adapter, universal charger, folding brush, travel mask and cutlery in branded packaging;
• a personalized flash drive with uploaded videos with the most unusual destinations, new routes and personal congratulations from the management or loved ones;
• certificate for a trip, participation in an ethnographic expedition or a weekend at an ecological recreation center;
• A globe bar or compass organizer for the office or home, symbolizing a profession and a passion for travel;
• a book about the tourism industry or a biography of a legendary traveler with a personalized bookmark.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the celebration of World Pharmacist's Day in Russia.