Did you know that September 27 is World Tourism Day? The United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated this day since 1980, marking the occasion of adopting the UNWTO Statutes a decade earlier.
Why celebrate World Tourism Day each year? To raise awareness about the role of tourism in the global community and celebrate the benefits of worldwide travel. We believe that travel makes us richer. That learning about another culture enhances our lives. That connecting with new people deepens our understanding of the world.
This year World Tourism Day is promoting Universal Accessibility. Nearly 1.2 billion people travel abroad each year. Yet, so many people around the world live with disabilities that can present obstacles when traveling. We’re proud to help spread the message that travel should be for everyone. (Azamara welcomes guests with special needs onboard our ships. To learn more about accessible cruising, please visit this page of our website.)
In honor of World Tourism Day, we’ve collected ten incredible photos shared by Tourism Boards around the world. These images showcase just why we #LoveTravel.
Our first photo comes from Australia, the magical Land Down Under. How cute is this pile of koalas in a tree?
Instagram: @australia
There’s truly nowhere else on earth like Australia. From the animals to the atmosphere, each port is a new adventure.
This next photo comes from Rome Tourism and City Live Sketches. We can see why the Eternal City would be the perfect place to sketch. After all, Rome has been home to some of the world’s most inspired artists and architects for centuries.
Instagram: @turismoromaweb
The Trevi Fountain is a baroque masterpiece of art and architecture. In the center of the fountain is a statue of the god Oceanus, being pulled in a chariot by two horses lead by Tritons. One horse is wild while the other is calm, representing the two sides of the sea. Four more statues on the fountain represent different aspects of Earth’s fertility and bounty, which rely on water. Check out our blog, "36 Hours In Rome", to find a walking tour route that takes you to the Trevi Fountain.
Our friend Ann Tran just returned from a voyage through the Norwegian Fjords and, to say the least, it knocked her socks off. This photo shared by Visit Norway shows why!
Instagram: @visitnorway
Those mountains, that rainbow. You couldn’t paint a prettier picture. Visiting Norway is like stepping into a work of art.
It’s impossible to name the most photogenic spot in Greece. Is it the sheer cliffs of Santorini? The seaside windmills of Mykonos? The Acropolis of Athens lit up after dark? This photo, shared by Visit Greece, makes a strong case for Meteora.
Instagram: @visitgreecegr
The other-worldly Meteora Monastery is worth a two-hour trip inland. As beautiful as this photo is, framed by vibrant pink flowers, it’s even more stunning to see in person. Just ask Lee Abbamonte, who has visited with one of our shore excursions.
Visit UAE shared this photo of Abu Dhabi. Doesn’t it make you want to visit right away?
Instagram: @VisitUAE
The capital city has so much to offer – and we’ll experience it all on our Azamara Circle member voyage this October!
This photo from Visit Scotland perfectly captures one of our favorite things about the country – stunning architecture.
Instagram: @VisitScotland
Buildings like this one, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery, wow you before you even step inside! Of course, Scotland has much more to offer than architecture (as cool as its many castles are). Golf, history, and whisky are big draws as well.
Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock once said Zadar, Croatia has the best sunsets in the world? This photo, shared by the Croatia Tourism Board, makes that statement hard to argue. Zadar sunsets draw a crowd.
Instagram: @CroatiaFullOfLife
Zadar makes a great jumping-off point for exploring some of Croatia’s best National Parks and is also a wonderful, quirky town to spend time in. Don’t miss the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, both designed by local architect Nikola Bašić. Pipes set into stone stairs descending into the sea whisper and whistle as the sea pushes air through them, while a circle of glass plates set into the ground collect solar energy throughout the day and produce a lights show at night.
Amsterdam is one of those cities you can visit again and again, and it’s always enjoyable. (Just look at how much fun the dog in this photo, shared on iAmsterdam’s Instagram, is having.)
Instagram: @iAmsterdam
On our 2018 World Journey, we’ll spend the night in “the Venice of the North”, allowing plenty of time to explore the city by bike, glide down canals at sunset, eat world-renowned cheese in Edam, and more.
Pure New Zealand shared this breathtaking astrophotography image, taken in the Auckland region.
Instagram: @PureNewZealand
The area surrounding Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island is home to unique black-sand beaches, vineyards, volcanic cones, and more. Are you an adventurer? A foodie? An art admirer or nature nut? New Zealand appeals to everyone.
This last photo comes from Visit France and depicts a quintessential Paris experience: picnicking.
Instagram: @VisitFrance
Paris is a wonderful city to visit before or after your European cruise. Read “36 Hours In Paris” for handy tips on which markets to shop at and where to picnic.
If you love travel photography, we recommend checking out our #LoveTravel photo gallery. Every day we add new, incredible vacation photos taken by Azamara guests. We're proud to help enrich the lives of our guests with meaningful travel experiences around the world.