The exhibit in Guadalajara’s Plaza de la Liberacion on September 26, 27 and 28 will be a highlight of World Tourism Day celebrations – the city was selected as the official site of this year’s event by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during its general assembly held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2013.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will deliver the World Tourism Day proclamation in Guadalajara’s Teatro Degollado on September 27 alongside UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai.
This is the second time that Mexico has been the official host of World Tourism Day – Acapulco did the honors in 1989.
UNWTO says the theme of 2014’s day “underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, as well as the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development.”
Another part of the celebration in Guadalajara will be a high-level think tank bringing together ministers, development experts and key tourism representatives to address the relevance of a community-based tourism approach as conducive to sustainable development. The meeting, called the Congreso de Investigación Turística Aplicada, will be moderated by news anchor Gabriela Frías of CNN International and take place in the Instituto Cultural Cabañas on September 25 and 26.
According to the UNWTO, World Tourism Day’s goal is to “foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.”
World Tourism Day has been celebrated on September 27 every year since 1980.
Obviously taking pride of place at Expo Pueblos Mágicos will be Jalisco’s five ‘Magic Towns’: Tequila, Lagos de Moreno, Tapalpa, Mazamitla and San Sebastian del Oeste. However, Jalisco Tourism Secretary Enrique Ramos says other at least ten other municipalities are also seeking the designation, which guarantees them access to federal funds. These include San Miguel El Alto, La Manzanilla de la Paz and Talpa de Allende.