Church Statements
Vatican's Message for World Tourism Day (2014)
Vatican Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants an Itinerant People's Message for World Tourism Day, September 27, 2014
Like every year, World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27. An event promoted annually by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the theme for this year’s commemoration is “Tourism and Community Development”. Keenly aware of the social and economic importance of tourism today, the Holy See wishes to accompany this phenomenon from its own realm, particularly in the context of evangelization.
In its Global Code of Ethics, the UNWTO says that tourism must be a beneficial activity for destination communities: “Local populations should be associated with tourism activities and share equitably in the economic, social and cultural benefits they generate, and particularly in the creation of direct and indirect jobs resulting from them.” That is, it calls on both realities to establish a reciprocal relationship, which leads to mutual enrichment.
The Church’s involvement in the field of tourism has resulted in numerous projects, emerging from a multitude of experiences thanks to the effort, enthusiasm and creativity of so many priests, religious and lay people who work for the socio-economic, cultural and spiritual development of the local community, and help them to look with hope to the future. In recognition that its primary mission is evangelization, the Church offers its often humble collaboration to respond to the specific circumstances of people, especially the most needy. And this, from the conviction that “we also evangelize when we attempt to confront the various challenges which can arise.”