8 March 2012: The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced that World Tourism Day celebrations will be held on 27 September, under the theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development.”

The theme is intended to highlight the need to bring the tourism sector and energy stakeholders closer, increasing the contribution of tourism to sustainable development. World Tourism Day celebrations will be held in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain. According to Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego, Spain is an appropriate host, as it is “among the top five countries investing in renewables,” with 20% of Spain’s energy coming from renewable energy.

World Tourism Day celebrations are set to include a “High-Level Think Tank on Tourism and Sustainable Energy,” bringing together public and private tourism stakeholders with energy sector leaders to discuss furthering the use of sustainable energy in the tourism sector. [UNWTO Press Release]