World Tourism day celebrated in Mumbai.

 World Tourism day celebrated in Mumbai.

World tourism day this year 2014, has a purpose, to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. This celebration on September 29^th 2014 was organized with much applaud organized by Young Environmentalists Trust and Meluha ecotel Powai Mumbai aiming to address global challenges outlined and to highlight the contribution the tourism, hotel and travel related industry has made in up lifting the community around.

The glamorous and house packed event hosted by Elsie Gabriel saw H.E. Consul General of South Africa .Pule Malefane and H.E. Consul general of Vietnam .Vu Son Thuy, Chairman of Travel council of India Jay Bhatia, Ahmer Shaikh of MTDC, Niranjan Hiranandani,Celebrity Mukesh Rishi, Actor Karan Goddwani, Diplomat from Belgium Ms.Pinkey Ahluwalia,Master chef Saranch Goila of Food Food and celebrity Arti Surendranath as well as Punish Sharma along with diplomatic members from Oman, Thailand, Reunion islands, Tourism board of Kenya, Clarence Fernandes-Rwanda Development Board,Co-Chairman Travel, Tourism/ Hospitality Committee-Indian Merchants' Chamber, and a host of travel delegates from around the world. TAFI and Madhya Pradesh tourism as well as travel enthusiasts gathered to mark the occasion through various colourful audio video films connecting people on this day.

 ‘Tourism and Community Development’ is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD). The theme underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, as well as the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development.

This year’s World Tourism Day draws special attention to the role of tourism in contributing to one of the building blocks of a more sustainable future for all: Community development. This focus on the Sustainable Development Goals is the guiding principle which will be expounded on today by our esteemed guests with respect to their countrys and their organization.

As a sector representing 9% of global GDP, one in 11 jobs worldwide, and a key revenue sector for developing and emerging economies, tourism is widely acknowledged for its capacity to respond to global challenges. The consolidation of tourism’s economic influence has built up its social responsibility and political relevance, with a growing number of countries allocating a stronger mandate to tourism in economic and development policy planning.

With the special focus on the community, WTD 2014 highlights how tourism can be conducive to advancing sustainable development from the grassroots level. Community based tourism involves the local population in the decision making process according to local priorities. The opportunity to become part of the tourism value chain actively involves host communities in the development process. Tourism thus becomes a catalyst of social cohesion, going beyond the immediate impact of job creation and its positive economic consequences and enhances, for instance, local governance capabilities which multiply the tourism impact even further.