Happy World Tourism Day!

Today is World Tourism Day! The United Nations World Tourism Organization started World Tourism Day in 1980 to raise awareness about tourism and its effects on economies, societies and politics in countries around the world.

World Tourism Day - Photo courtesy of the UNWTO

The theme for 2011 is “Tourism – Linking Cultures” and this year’s host country is Egypt, a country whose history and culture attract millions of tourists, making it the perfect host for the 2011 theme. We at Viator know that the whale-watching cruise through icy waters, the off-roading tour through the desert or the zipline ride through the jungle may have been the most exciting part of your last vacation, but digging deeper into your destination and getting a look at its history, food, music, art or other forms of culture is often the most rewarding.

Whether you’re currently traveling in some far-flung locale or you’re reading this from the comfort of your own home, you can participate in World Tourism Day with one of our cultural tours.

Top Cultural Tours & Activities

If you happen to be in Hong Kong, soak up some of its culture on the Buddhist Monastery, Temples and Villages Tour. If you’re currently sweating in the hot center of Australia, try the Kuniya Sunset Aboriginal Tour and Uluru Cultural Center. If you’re in Munich for Oktoberfest, take a break from the beer-drinking on an art gallery tour or a small-group tour to Dachau concentration camp.

If you’re in New York, take a half a day off work and have fun on the Best of Brooklyn Sightseeing, Food and Culture Tour, or play hooky on Wednesday and head to Harlem on the Wednesday Morning Gospel Tour. If you’re ringing in the fall season in London, partake in an age-old tradition with Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House. If you’re chillin’ in Dublin, get a taste for traditional Irish music on a musical pub crawl.

These tours are just a smidgeon of the cultural and historical tours we offer! For more, simply head to our homepage, select your destination and then click on “Cultural & Theme Tours” on the right side of the page. Happy World Tourism Day from Viator!

- Viator Travel Team