World Tourism Day 2018: Protecting World Heritage

Today (September 27) is celebrated as the World Tourism Day. The chief aim of observing this day is to create awareness that tourism plays within the international community. Tourism is not about only allowing people from different geographies and communities to blend with each other; in the meantime, it also affects social, cultural, political and economic standards worldwide.

The theme of 2018’s World Tourism Day (WTD) is "Tourism and the Digital Transformation". This day is a unique opportunity to spread awareness on the probable contribution of digital technologies to sustainable tourism development and thereby providing a platform for investment, partnerships. This day also aims for a co-operative, responsible and inclusive tourism sector.

Worth mentioning that every tourism has a host country and for the year 2018 the host country is Hungary. The significant events for this year's World Tourism would take place in Hungary's capital Budapest. Budapest is the classical European capital that is committed to digital future - the perfect stage for this year's merriment of tourism.

Hungarian Tourism Agency's CEO Zoltán Guller said that for him and for the entire Hungarian tourism industry it is a great honour that, on 27 September, Hungary and our amazing capital Budapest will be hosting events of World Tourism Day. We are particularly pleased to have the opportunity to show UNWTO the Hungarian hospitality and the progress that has definitely helped both Hungary and Budapest to boost their visibility on the tourism map of the world and allowing today to refer to Budapest as the 'Spice of Europe’.

Prior to this in 2017 Hungary welcomed about 16 million international tourist arrivals, which is 50% more than in 2010. This demonstrates the stable growth of tourism in the country. Also, the Hungarian Tourism Agency is accountable for the national administration and harmonization of tourism.

Needless to say that tourism in India is very crucial for the country's financial system and is increasing rapidly. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the tourism sector generated Rs. 15.24 lakh crore or 9.4% of India's GDP in 2017 and also supported 41.622 million jobs, 8% of its total employment.

This segment is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.9% to Rs. 32.05 lakh crore by the year 2028 (9.9% of GDP). Till October 2015, India's medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion, and it is anticipated to grow to US$7-8 billion by 2020. In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients traveled to India to seek health checkup.

In 2014, Tamil Nadu was the most visited tourist destination for both Indian and International tourists. The state witnessed over 320 million domestic visits and 4.6 million foreign visits. Tamil Nadu consists of places of historical, cultural and architectural significance. The sightseeing in Tamil Nadu is promoted by Ministry of Tourism by the state government with a logo enthralling Tamil Nadu. The Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism in the state by organizing different functions and events. The capital city of Tamil Nadu; Chennai; which is called as the Gateway of South India is the only place in India that is included in "52 places to go around the world" by "The New York Times".