Why visitors are important
A day to reflect on the past to better tourism tomorrow
TODAY is World Tourism Day. This day was created to bring attention to the importance of tourism to the international community and most importantly raise awareness on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development and among the public of the importance of the tourism industry.
A report published by website www.holidayscalendar.com reported that the global tourism sector has been a major source of employment because of its labour-intensive nature and the flow-on effect on employment in related sectors.
This year’s theme “Tourism and Rural Development” will highlight the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of the usual hotspots and preserving cultural and natural heritage.
To commemorate this year’s event the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association CEO Fantasha Lockington urges the Fiji tourism family to rethink the future of the tourism sector and how it contributes to the sustainable development goals of the country, through its social, cultural, political, and economic values.
A report published by The Fiji Times on Thursday September 24 highlighted that this year’s international day of observation comes at a critical time as people struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite that she says with the unparalleled access to fertile land and surrounded by oceans teeming with marine life, even with borders shut and higher unemployment, we have been able to sustain ourselves with what we have or by helping out one another as island people usually do.
“But with Fiji’s communal living framework, we can work together to ensure that estimation does not happen here,” Ms Lockington said.
“Tourism is a lifeline, offering workers a chance to earn a living where they live, or get a skill and use it to travel further for a richer experience.”
She said people could use this World Tourism Day to reflect on the work that has been done in the past and continue to put our heads together, to work collectively towards making Fiji the destination of choice.