The Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre (STTAR Centre) reflects on World Tourism Day 2024

World Tourism Day, established in 1980 by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, is celebrated every year on 27 September. It highlights tourism's crucial role in facilitating international cooperation, driving economic growth, and promoting cultural exchange. The theme for World Tourism Day 2024 (WTD24) is ‘Tourism and Peace.’

The Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre (STTAR Centre) at Nottingham University Business School is marking the day and Director of the Centre, Professor Marina Novelli said:

“The pursuit of peace is a continuing endeavour, and progress through tourism is more relevant than ever. Tourism can play a vital role as a catalyst for fostering peace and understanding between nations and cultures and in supporting reconciliation processes. 

"While the right to travel and tourism remains a privilege for most, and although acknowledging the many complications associated with the sector, travel and tourism have proved to be a valuable means to enable cross-cultural dialogues, peace, tolerance and mutually beneficial collaborations between communities worldwide.

“Guided by article one of the UN Tourism Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the STTAR Centre calls for all possible efforts to be made in favour of peace negotiations in conflict affected destinations, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace.

 “At the STTAR Centre we believe that the future of tourism as a force for good lies in the hands of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, private sector players, civil societies, consumers, and people from all backgrounds.”

 The functions of the STTAR Centre are centred around the production of world-leading, innovative, and impactful research through interdisciplinary approached that rethink theory, policy and practice in ways that are socially just, economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The STTAR Centre will be hosting a World Tourism Day 2024 celebration during Welcome Week aimed at exchanging ideas and engaging students and staff in a dialogue that enhances collaboration and deepens understanding of how tourism can drive meaningful change in the future.

Find out more about the STTAR Centre