Tourism and sustainable transformation

From the high mountains to scenic beauties with flora and fauna and heritage with culture, food and music around the region, tourism is common for all of us . We know that tourism means travelling and movement of people from their home destination to other places for leisure, business, or other purposes, typically for less than one consecutive year.
Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. Global data says that countries with a more open and sustainable tourism sector tend to be more peaceful. In 2024, the sector contributed 10% of global GDP and supported 1 in 10 jobs. Youth aged 15 to 24 represent 15.5% of the global tourism workforce, exceeding the economy-wide average, while women account for 40% of the sector’s direct employment.
Tourism is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment to our Sustainable Development Goals( SDGs), especially goals 8, 12, and 14. It serves as a first entry point to the world of work, especially for women, youth, migrant workers, and rural populations in developing and least developed countries (LDCs). Women represent a majority of the tourism sector workforce, while half of that workforce is under 25 years of age.
The constant growth of the tourism sector during the last six decades reflects more progressive access to tourism thanks to the decline in the cost of transport and the world-wide growth of the middle classes.
The many important contributions of tourism encouraged the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to institute World Tourism Day in a meeting that took place in Spain, commencing the first celebration of the observance in the year 1980.
This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970.
World Tourism Day 2025, under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, highlights tourism’s transformative potential as an agent of positive change.
The UNWTO is a leading UN international agency in the field of tourism. Its mission is to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
Discover how they are working to cope with this pandemic along with the tourism sector and other UN agencies.
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN in his message said that “ tourism strengthens bonds between people and places. It builds bridges across cultures, preserves traditions and restores cultural heritage. It reminds us of our shared humanity – and the richness of diversity.”
From the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sun-kissed shores of its pristine beaches, India offers an extraordinary sensory experience. The nation enchants the senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell creating an immersive journey that leaves a lasting impression from the tourism perspectives.
The future of tourism looks even brighter with India’s tourism industry projected to contribute a staggering $512 billion to the nation’s GDP by 2028. By 2030, India is expected to emerge as the fourth-largest global spender on tourism with an estimated expenditure of $410 billion.
All the North Eastern states have potential when it comes to tourism. It is our moral responsibility to be responsible tourists so that we can also contribute positively for the social transformation.
(With direct inputs from the UN publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)
ranjan k baruah
Guwahati.