Visiting countries different from your own, experiencing other cultures is part of understanding the world and widening one’s horizons. Traveling creates bridges. Tourists provide an essential boost to many local economies, the 6th of May is a day to celebrate that. Find out more about National Tourist Appreciation Day.
1. History
According to National Today’s website, this is how the timeline for National Tourist Appreciation Day can be plotted:
- January 20, 1758: The term ‘tour’ is first used, soon followed by the term ‘tourist,’ referring to participants of tourist events.
- May 20, 1838: The first tourist trip by the steamship Great Western is the launching point for the development of sea cruises.
- July 5, 1841: As the oldest travel company in the world, the Thomas Cook Company initiates organized tourism.
- January 2, 1975: The United Nations establishes the World Tourist Organization (UNWTO).
2. National Tourist Appreciation Day Activities
- Get some tourist attire: With a little work, you could have your very own tourist costume. Not that it’ll be an everyday outfit, but when you decide to pack up and go, you’ll be surprised how much stress you’ll avoid by having bought it all already.
- Go somewhere new: National Tourism Day is the perfect excuse to book that trip you’ve been talking about for years. Do it!
- Make a list of dream destinations: While some of the best trips can be spontaneous, there’s good reason for extensive planning, too. If hopping on a jet today just isn’t in the cards, start thinking about where you’d go right now if you could.
3. The kind of people who enjoy National Tourist Appreciation Day
According to National Today’s website, here are some hints:
- They opt for function over fashion: They’re the classic example of people who will carry something that everyone acknowledges as useful, but no one wants to be caught dead using. But when we’re abroad? Strap on that fanny pack, grab your embarrassingly large hats, and wear them proud
- They’re adventurous: More often than not, tourists like to do new things. If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box time, head to where the travelers go!
- They spend money: In 2016, more tourists visited Bangkok, Thailand than any other city in the world. According to MasterCard’s Global Destination Cities Index from 2016, travelers spent nearly $15 billion in the Thai capital.
