Meet the day of tourism

People have always traveled. Suffice it to recall that in the early stages of human development, tribes of people led a nomadic way of life. Later travelers plied the waves of the oceans, crossed the deserts, overcame the mountain ranges to reach other countries and lands. But all of them were guided by the desire to establish trade contacts or to seize and develop new lands. Calling such a tour is difficult. The first person we know that he climbed to the top of one of the Tuscan hills to simply admire the surroundings was Francesco Petrarca in the 14th century. And in 1841 the first travel agency was opened - among other things, by the same person, Thomas Cook, who also introduced traveler's checks. But World Tourism Day appeared, of course, much later.

In the twentieth century. - with the development of transport, the growth of the well-being of the population and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle - a real boom of travel began. More and more people were somehow drawn into the tourist business. According to statistics, now one-eighth of the world's population, able to work, is involved in servicing tourists. And in some countries tourism is an essential item of government revenue. Based on the development of the tourism industry, many governments make a great contribution to the protection of the environment, introduce tax incentives for travel industry employees. Tourism is increasingly affecting the economy and even the political regimes of different countries. Therefore, in the second half of the twentieth century. There is a need to establish a Tourism Day as a holiday for people professionally engaged in tourism. This day is celebrated by employees of tourist companies, tour guides, museum workers, hotel staff, guides through the mountains. But all those who have ever got out of their hometown in order to "see the world", this holiday is also not alien.

The International Tourism Day was established by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in 1979. The General Assembly of this organization gathered in the Spanish fishing town of Torremolinos to discuss the importance of tourism and to promote the development of this important industry, to strengthen the cultural relations of different peoples, and to promote the study of their traditions and customs, proclaimed the Day of Tourism on September 27.

The date was not chosen by chance: September 27, 1970 in Mexico, the charter of the World Tourism Organization was adopted, and to commemorate this important milestone in history, the Day of Tourism on the planet began to be celebrated on 27.09. For the first time this holiday began to be celebrated everywhere since 1980. According to the rules adopted by the General Assembly of the WTO, the main festivals are held every year in different countries. So, Russia became the hostess of the holiday and the venue for major events in 2003.

In addition, the Tourism Day has its own theme every year. In 2012, the main official festivities will be held in the city of Maspalomas, on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). The theme of this year's holiday is the contribution of tourism to the creation of sustainable energy. The theme of this festival is directly related to the venue: one third of the territory of the island of Gran Canaria is occupied by a biosphere reserve, which is included in the UNESCO list.

But the brightest and most colorful day of tourism is celebrated in the homeland of the holiday - in the town of Torremolinos. It is understandable: it was thanks to tourism that the deaf fishing village turned into a famous Spanish resort. Parades and processions in national costumes are held along the streets of the city , shows, dances and theatrical performances with horses are arranged. The festivities do not bypass the local beaches - Carihuela, Playamar and Badjondillo, where local residents free of charge treat tourists with sangria, paella and fried fish in Spanish for free. And in the evening the night explodes with a bouquet of colorful fireworks.