World Tourism Day (#WTD2016) is celebrated on 27th September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. As the official day set aside in the United Nations Calendar the celebration seeks to highlight tourism’s potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), addressing some of the most pressing challenges society is faced with today.
The official World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
In Uganda, the major celebrations will be held at Golf Course Grounds in Mbarara District (Western Uganda) under the theme, “Promoting Universal Accessibility”. The celebrations will be presided over by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic Uganda and this will give an opportunity to the people of Mbarara, Western Uganda and the country at large to showcase the various tourism attractions & activities in the region.
This year’s event will be flagged off on 23rd September with the launch of Tulambule, Domestic tourism promotion campaign.
Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or later, we all benefit from universal accessibility in tourism.
Which is why, we call upon the right for all of the world’s citizens to experience the incredible diversity of our planet and the beauty of the world we live in. On this year’s World Tourism Day, help us spread the word of both the importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large.
UTB will work closely with the Ministry of Tourism to spearhead the preparations of World Tourism Day in collaboration with other tourism agencies including UWA, UWEC, CAA, HTTI and the Private sector through its umbrella organization – UTA, which will also play a major role in mobilizing the different private stakeholders and the tourism fraternity to actively participate in this year’s celebrations.
Programs for World Tourism Day Celebrations and Tulambule:
- Fika Salama Programme and Eclipse hill climbing challenge – Sunday 25th September at Igongo Cultural Center, Mbarara
- Ankole Tourism Development Forum on Monday 26th September at Lake View Hotel, Mbarara
- Tourism Open Debate hosted by UTB on Monday 26th September at Mbarara University
- Main World Tourism Day celebrations on Tuesday 27th September at Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara.
#WTD2016 #WorldTourismDay #Tulambule
