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National Tourism Day 2024: Know about history, theme and celebrations

The national tourism day is celebrated on january 25, while the world tourism day is celebrated on september 23..

National Tourism Day is dedicated to celebrating the unique characteristics of our country. Celebrated on January 25 every year, the day is observed to give a boost to the economy, and to promote and create awareness about the many tourist spots of India – be it ecological, business, heritage, or even educational. On the occasion of this year’s National Tourism Day, let’s understand the year’s theme and celebrations.

The National Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25, while the World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27. The main focus of celebrating this day in India is to educate people about the benefits of traveling, to appreciate the country’s beauty and spread awareness of the importance of tourism.

The theme this year is “Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories.” Every year, the theme is such that different aspects of the the country’s tourism are highlighted.

How is it celebrated

Different states have planned celebrations with their unique twist this year. Madhya Pradesh has tweeted about ‘Sair Sapata’ an evening full of cultural celebrations planned by the state government.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated Bharat Parv 2024 to commemorate the 75th Republic Day celebrations. “This celebration of India’s rich cultural tapestry promises to be an unforgettable experience,” the Ministry of Tourism tweeted. From January 23 to January 31, the Ministry of Tourism shall organise various cultural programmes, encourage and display diverse cuisines, promote stunning handicrafts and vibrant performances as a part of this initiative at Red Fort, Delhi.

Tomorrow is the day! Bharat Parv 2024 organised by the Ministry of Tourism begins! 🎉 Join us at the Red Fort, Delhi, for a spectacular celebration of India’s rich culture and heritage. Dive into the world of diverse cuisines, stunning handicrafts, and vibrant performances.… pic.twitter.com/NNGbyYrKRE — Ministry of Tourism (@tourismgoi) January 22, 2024

Ranveer Singh has cleared his Instagram profile, removing all old photos including his wedding pictures with Deepika Padukone. The couple, expecting their first child in September, are on vacation. This is likely to be a social media strategy, as previously also done by Deepika. They are currently on a vacation.

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National Tourism Day 2024: History, significance and theme of the day that celebrates India's wonders

National tourism day is observed to cultivate awareness among the global community on the importance of tourism. india offers several forms of tourism such as cultural, natural, heritage, educational, and business. it has also made significant strides in sports, rural, medical, cruise and eco-tourism..

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National Tourism Day 2022: Theme, significance and events scheduled

A national-level programme to mark 'national tourism day' will be held at telangana's pochampally, a village on the outskirts of hyderabad known for its famous hand-woven ikat saris..

National Tourism Day is celebrated across the country on January 25 every year to appreciate India’s beauty and spread awareness about the importance of tourism and its impact on the economy. The ministry of tourism is observing National Tourism Day under the aegis of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a 75-week grand celebration to mark 75 years of India’s independence. This year’s theme for National Tourism Day is ‘Rural and Community Centric Tourism’.

As part of National Tourism Day, seminars, cultural events and other programmes will be organised by the Centre in association with the Telangana government. While several states have organised events to promote tourism in their region, the central government is organising the main event in Telangana’s Pochampally village, a weavers' hamlet on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Known for its famous hand-woven Ikat saris, Pochampally was selected as one of the best tourism villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in November 2021. Programmes including cultural events, light and sound shows will also be organised at 75 major tourism centres and all tourist destinations across the country.

Somnath Temple circuit house inauguration: PM Modi lists 4 ways to boost tourism sector

On Monday, the tourism ministry unveiled the Indian Tourism Pictorial Quiz. The objective of the quiz is to showcase India’s varied tourism products, architecture, culture, and cuisine, and test the knowledge regarding the tourism opportunities available within the country.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy said last month that the Centre has decided to organise an All India Conference on Temple Architecture during the last week of February either at Ramappa temple premises in Telangana, which was recently inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, or in Warangal.

The tourism industry has been heavily hit by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The World Tourism Organization has said that tourist arrivals around the world are not expected to return to their pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

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National Tourism Day 2023: Date, significance, theme, and quotes

National tourism day 2023: check here everything you need to know..

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National Tourism Day is celebrated every year on January 25 across the country. In order to promote tourism and to explain its importance to the country's growth, the government observes this day. Tourism Day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness and influence within the international community, as well as to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political, and economic values.

Indian civilization is one of the oldest in the world. Our country is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations due to its multicultural experiences, rich heritage, and beautiful attractions.

NATIONAL TOURISM DAY HISTORY:

National Tourism Day was first celebrated by the Indian government in 1948, according to reports. It was intended to protect national heritage and create popular tourist attractions throughout the country.

In India, the tourism ministry is responsible for forming national policies to promote and develop tourism. It also coordinates with central, state agencies and the public sector. Published By: Animesh Bhardwaj Published On: Jan 25, 2023 --- ENDS --- READ | How to download Ration card online in Delhi

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Sector gets ready to celebrate world tourism day 2022, world tourism day, rethinking tourism, returns to focus on the future, the tourism we want.

During the celebration, UNWTO launched its first World Tourism Day Report, the first in an annual series of updates and analysis of the Organization’s work guiding the sector forward. The inaugural report is titled “ Rethinking Tourism: From Crisis to Transformation ”, reflecting the timely relevance of the 2022 theme as well as the unprecedented crisis that hit the sector in 2020.

Tourism’s relevance has never been clearer. The time is now to seize this opportunity to rethink how we do tourism.

Arrival and Registration of participants

Welcome dinner (For all registered delegates)

Opening Ceremony

Special Address by Mr. I Wayan Koster , Governor of Bali

Welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Sandiaga Uno , Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia

Congratulatory Message by H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo , President of The Republic of Indonesia, Video Taping (Tbc)

Opening remarks by Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili , Secretary-General of UNWTO

Culture Performance Group Photo

Coffee Break – News Conference

Presentation: World Tourism Day 2022 Report: from Crisis to Transformation

Mr. Marcelo Risi , UNWTO Chief of Communications

Mr. Phillip Orga , Head of Swiss Economic Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Indonesia (International Expert)

High-Level Debate on Rethinking Tourism

Moderator: Ms. Emma Nelson , presenter at BBC TV news

H.E. Mr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno , Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia H.E. Ms. Fatima Al Sairafi , Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Bahrain H.E. Mr. Faiyaz Koya , Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport of Fiji H.E. Mr. Ahmed bin Aqil Al Khateeb , Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia H.E. Mr. Cho Yongman , Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea H.E. Ms. María Reyes Maroto Illera , Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Spain Ms. Claudia Müller , Federal Government Coordinator for the Maritime Industry and for Tourism, Germany Ms. Julia Simpson , President & CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Lunch Hosted by Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy

Panel Discussion - Rethinking Tourism and New Governance for Recovery

Moderator: Ms. Sandra Carvão , Chief of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, UNWTO

Introductory remarks by Mrs. Angela Tanoesoedibjo , Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy

Ms. Fransiska Handoko , Chairwoman of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA) and General Manager of Risata Bali Resort & Spa Mr. Lim Jock Hoi , Secretary-General, ASEAN (TBC) Mr. Jozua Makes , Founder of Plataran Hospitality Group Ms. Laretna T. Adishakti , Lecturer and Coordinator of The Center for Heritage Conservation, Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada

The Tourism We Want - A conversation with Local Representatives

Ms. Melati Wijsen , Youth UN Envoy and Founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags Mr. Kadek Fendi Wirawan , Marine Biologist & Scientific Diver, Representative from Indonesian Coral Reef Garden Mr. Agung Suryawan Wiranatha , Head of Centre of Excellence in Tourism, Udayana University in Bali, Coordinator of the INSTO Observatory in Sanur (Bali) Mr. Sugeng Handoko , Secretary of Nglanggeran Tourism Village Management – BTV 2021 Mr. I Wayan Budiarta , Representative from Panglipuran Tourism Village, Bali Mr. Juan Kartika Sitepu , Representative from Tangkahan Village, North Sumatera (TBC)

UNWTO Affiliate Members: Breaking the ground in private-public partnership

Moderator: Mr. Juan Daniel Solana Alonso , General Director, Basquetour

Welcome Remarks by Mr. Ion Vilcu , Director, Affiliate Members Department, UNWTO

Mr. Ruben Hattari , Director Public Policy – SEA, NETFLIX Ms. Beth Potter , CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Mr. Steven Liew , APAC Policy Director, AirBnb Mr. Lee Sang Hoon , Executive Director of International Tourism & MICE, Seoul Tourism Organization Mr. Ion Vilcu , Director, Affiliate Members Department, UNWTO Q&A

Conclusion & Closing

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili , Secretary-General of UNWTO

H.E. Mr. Sandiaga Uno , Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia

H.E. Mr. Ahmed bin Aqil Al Khateeb , Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

World Tourism Day Dinner -(by invitation only)

Magical Bali, Wonderful Indonesia - Technical Tour

The official World Tourism Day celebration will be held in Bali, Indonesia, on 27 September , highlighting the shift towards tourism being recognized as a crucial pillar of development.

• General Information Note  
• Concept Note  

Zurab Pololikashvili

Read more  

António Guterres

Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno

3 actions you can take to # rethinktourism.

Find everything you need to celebrate World Tourism Day, including social media images, graphics and animations.

Save the date for World Tourism Day 2022!

Share your personal experiences and journeys to showcase the transformative power of tourism.

Need some inspiration?

Check out some of unwto's projects to restart a greener, smarter and safer tourism, world tourism day 2022 events.

* The designations employed in this section of the website do not imply the expression of any opinions whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, España

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SAVE THE DATE

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• UN Observances

Investing in People, Planet, and Prosperity

The overall disruption in the tourism sector brought about by COVID-19, provides an opportunity to redefine and recalibrate the direction and narratives of tourism investments for a more sustainable future for the People, the Planet, and prosperity.  

This  World Tourism Day 2023 , the  UNWTO ,  under the theme “Tourism and green investment” highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for the  Sustainable Development Goals , the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030. Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity.

Visit the World Tourism Organization’s website

The UN World Tourism Organization has prepared a website and digital materials for social networks. Let’s all contribute to promote tourism investments focused on achieving a better world for the benefit of all.

How tourism should invest to contribute to the SDGs

The possibilities of strategic investment for this triple dimension are immense:

For the People by investing in education and skills

Looking ahead, the global tourism workforce will require millions of hospitality graduates annually between now and 2030 and a further 800,000 jobs a year will require specific vocational training. For these reasons, we need to invest in people, as they are the foundation of tourism so that all those who wish to be part of the sector have the same opportunities to access quality tourism training, anywhere in the world.

For the Planet by investing in sustainable infrastructure and accelerating green transformation

Looking into the future, the need to reduce emissions provides an investment opportunity of $24.7 trillion in the green buildings sector of emerging market cities by 2030, in which hotels, resorts, and restaurants account for $1.5 trillion. In addition, tourism faces a lot more investment opportunities related to new solutions and technologies to decarbonize the sector as well as to ensure climate-resilient infrastructure through adaptation solutions.

For Prosperity by investing in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship

Digitalization and innovation programs are a strategic priority to support particularly young people and women, which are critical to upskill the tourism sector’s workforce. Moreover, the global need to increase investments in programs that support and incentivize entrepreneurship and generate opportunities for innovations is highly need it in the tourism sector.

In order to succeed, let’s make this World Tourism Day a call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners, and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy .

What is the Glasgow Declaration?

The Glasgow Declaration is a compromise to accelerate climate action in tourism and to secure strong commitments to support the global goals to halve emissions over the next decade and reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050. Over 450 organizations have become signatories of this declaration.

Did you know?

• Tourism employs one in every ten people on Earth.
• Tourism in rural areas can particularly benefit traditionally disadvantaged groups such as women - who make up 54% of the workforce in the tourism sector compared to 39% for the whole economy - youth and Indigenous people.
• In emerging destinations, 50% of young people are unable to work in tourism due to a lack of opportunity, resources, or access to academic training.

Campaign materials

Follow our event live!

The UN World Tourism Organization wants you to join the celebration online ( 27-28 September). You can follow its two-day event through its website or its YouTube channel .  

An indigenous entrepreneur in tune with Mother Earth

After successfully reclaiming her people’s territory in Quebrada de Humahuaca, Northern Argentina, Celestina Ábalos turned to tourism to share and promote her indigenous culture. ILO entrepreneurship training during the COVID-19 pandemic helped her business to grow.

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a leading UN international agency in the field of tourism. Its mission is to promote tourism as a driver of  economic growth, inclusive development  and  environmental sustainability  and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. Discover how they are working to cope with this pandemic along with the tourism sector and other UN agencies. 

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

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National travel and tourism week.

Nationwide, United States

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual celebration that underscores travel’s essential role in driving our nation's economy, cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections.

Established in 1983, NTTW has become a cherished tradition, celebrating the U.S. travel community and highlighting how travel stimulates economic growth, creates quality jobs, inspires new businesses and elevates the quality of life for Americans every day.

Get ready to celebrate NTTW from May 19-25, 2024.

While NTTW has historically been celebrated during the first full week of May, this year’s NTTW dates were shifted due to a conflict with U.S. Travel’s IPW.

View the toolkit resources. 

National Travel and Tourism Week Team

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National Tourism Day 2021: Know its history, significance and theme this year

The day's importance is plain and simple. It is to highlight the prominence of tourism in the country and how it impacts India's economic prospects.

While we all are familiar with Republic Day being celebrated on January 26, the previous day, January 25, is dedicated to an aspect that is very important, especially for our economy.

Every year, January 25 is observed as National Tourism Day in the country. Owing to the diversity and the multiculturism India has to offer, this day is to highlight the importance of tourism having a positive impact on the country's economy. 

National Tourism Day History

It is not known when exactly this day came about. However, in 1948, a Tourist Traffic Committee was formed to promote tourism. The first regional offices of the same were established in Delhi and Mumbai. Three years later, in 1951, more offices were added in Kolkata and Chennai.

A department specifically pertaining to tourism was established in 1958 under the Ministry of Tourism and Communication that was headed by the Deputy General in the rank of Joint Secretary. 

National Tourism Day Significance

The day's importance is plain and simple. It is to highlight the prominence of tourism in the country and how it impacts India's economic prospects. Each and every region in the country has a rich history attached to it that is commemorated in various ways. Tourism is the best way to highlight it all. Along with this, people are educated about the role it plays in the country as well. 

National Tourism Day Theme

This year, the theme of National Tourism Day is 'Dekho Apna Desh'. Owing to the deadly coronavirus, tourism was deeply impacted by the lockdown that was put in the country to curb COVID-19's rampant spread. This time, this day will be observed virtually. From January 21 to February 22, the Ministry of Tourism has been organizing seminars pertaining to the theme. With that, they want to showcase the diverse culture of our country. 

On this day, here's hoping that this year we all get to travel a bit around the country as well. Happy National Tourism Day!

• Latest buzz News

Celebrate National Tourism Day!

By Rachael Funk

Did you know there’s a national holiday just to celebrate tourism?

As a matter of fact, the United States has an entire WEEK designated to travel and tourism. In 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a Proclamation urging US citizens to observe our first National Travel and Tourism Week. Every year, at the end of the first full week of May, we celebrate National Tourism Day.

Wish you were here

Why we love National Tourism Day:

• Tourism is awesome (obviously)
• Tourism opens us up to new opportunities and experiences
• Tourism can make you happier
• Tourism breaks barriers and builds self-confidence

Not only that, tourism is critical to our community, the US economy, and the American workforce. With the right measures in place, like the GVV Certified Clean Check and Travel Protection programs , we’re ready to get people traveling again in a safe and healthy way.

Three chums & their gal pal

Want to join in on the fun? Here are a few ways to enjoy National Tourism Day:

• Plan a vacation
• Gift travel to a loved one
• Cook a meal from your favorite destination
• Learn a bit about a different culture
• Send a friend a souvenir

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National Tourism Day 2024: History, Theme, and Significance

• Updated on  
• Jan 24, 2024

Every year, the National Tourism Day is celebrated on 25 January. This day highlights the pivotal role of the tourism sector in strengthening the economy of our country. Moreover, this day also honors foreign visitors to come and explore the diverse Indian cultural heritage, traditional food, and history. Interestingly, in 2022, the National Tourism Day celebrations were a major part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, an Indian government initiative. 

Table of Contents

• 1 History of National Tourism Day
• 2 National Tourism Day Theme 2024
• 3 What is the Significance of this Day?
• 4 5 Quotes on National Tourism Day

Also Read: International Customs Day 2024: History, Theme, and Significance

History of National Tourism Day

Although there is not much information available about the history of the day, here are a few important points to remember;

• According to widely held beliefs, the was first observed somewhere around the year 1948.
• It happened after the Indian government established a tourist committee which in turn started celebrating this day with great enthusiasm and pride. 

National Tourism Day Theme 2024

Every year, the day is celebrated with a different theme in the center of attraction. The theme for 2024 is Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories,” emphasizing the concept of responsible and mindful travel . Similarly, the theme for 2022 was Rural and Community-Centric Tourism.  

Also Read: National Girl Child Day- Date, Theme, History, Significance  

What is the Significance of this Day?

India is a country of rich culture that attracts visitors from all around the world. National Tourism Day holds great significance in India for several reasons such as:

• It not only promotes tourism but also raises awareness about its importance for the economic sector of India. 
• The day encourages the people of India to explore the marvelous attractions of their country and support the rapid growth and development of domestic tourism. 
• Interestingly, the day also urges people to turn to sustainable tourism practices that will eventually help in mitigating the negative impacts on our environment.
• It also sheds light on the overall economic benefits of the tourism industry. A few examples include creating new jobs, generating revenue, and offering investment opportunities. 

5 Quotes on National Tourism Day

Here are 5 quotes on one of the most important days and dates to further enrich your learning about this topic. 

Tourism is the best education. It teaches you to be open-minded, to understand and appreciate different cultures. – Amitabh Bachchan

Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. – Ibn Battuta

Tourism is a passport to peace and prosperity. – Enrique Peña Nieto

Tourism is the biggest industry in the world, and it’s still growing. – Louis D’Amore

The journey is the destination. – Dan Eldon

Today, we celebrate National Tourism Day & cherish the efforts of the Tourism Ministry. On this day, let us appreciate & explore the historical, cultural & natural beauty of India & promote the culture of travelling, which is essentially a prerequisite for our growing economy. pic.twitter.com/0yTuY8ej61 — Congress (@INCIndia) January 25, 2023

Related Blogs

National Tourism Day is celebrated in India every year on 25 January. It brings forward the importance of the tourism industry in developing and strengthening the economy of our country. Moreover, the day also subtly promotes tourism as a means of cultural exchange between countries, sustainable development and preservation of the environment, and economic growth. 

The theme for World Tourism Day 2023 was Tourism and green investment. 

The theme for this day 2024 is Sustainable Journeys reflects the growing global and cultural awareness of the environmental impact of tourism.

This was all about celebrating National Tourism Day. For more such articles, make sure to check the trending events page of Leverage Edu .

Parul Sharma

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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‘Mayhem’ event brings hundreds of boats to Lake George in Volusia County

About a half dozen sheriff’s offices from the region, the fwc, and the u.s. coast guard monitored event.

Molly Reed , Reporter

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The giant “floatilla” party near the Juniper Sandbar on Lake George brings hundreds of boaters out each year but ‘Mayhem on Lake George’ can be just that – mayhem.

Boaters and partiers packed in Saturday with dozens of law enforcement officers keeping an eye on the crowds.

News 6 rode along with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office to see what the challenges are in handling this event.

“A lot of it has to do with boaters that brush off their boats for the first time and they haven’t done the stuff to make sure their safety equipment is ready to go, they may not be familiar with the area,” said Sergeant Brodie Hughes.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos ]

Hughes said the event brings in people from all over Central Florida.

“The crowd for this event tends to be a lot of out-of-town people that don’t know our waterways,” he said. “Then you mix alcohol into it and it’s a recipe for disaster. That’s really why we put so much effort into it.”

About a half dozen sheriff’s offices from the region, the FWC, and the U.S. Coast Guard surrounded the event on the water and on land.

“We have found a model that works well for us and that is heavy police presence, saturate the area,” Hughes said.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office set up a mobile command center in Astor where a crew watches what’s happening on the water overall and helps plan a response if there is a major incident.

Law enforcement ramped up their efforts for the event after a massive brawl broke out in 2022. Deputies said five people were arrested and one person had a severe head injury, but getting medical help to him through the crowds was a major challenge.

“We literally forced our way in and were stepping over boats,” Hughes said.

Now, Hughes said they set up a 75-by-75-foot box perimeter the boats stay inside of for easier access.

“We put the barge that they’re running a stage off of right there along that because that’s where the crowd’s going to be,” he said.

On top of the crowds, the teams ran equipment safety checks with boats and monitored for anyone breaking rules of the waterways

“We want people to come out here and enjoy the water, but we want to make sure you’re following the rules and safe while doing it,” said Hughes.

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Promotion of Wabanaki cultural tourism gains momentum in Maine

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, is slated to open this summer. Designed in collaboration with Wabanaki leaders, it is one of the first major efforts in the state to boost Indigenous tourism.

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An artist’s rendering of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station on Lookout Mountain in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The visitor center, slated to open on Aug. 17,  has displays and architectural features that highlight Wabanaki culture. Courtesy of Saunders Architecture and Mir

Tucked just below the ridgeline on Lookout Mountain, Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is designed to deliver breathtaking views of Mount Katahdin and the Wabanaki homelands that surround Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Visitors to the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, set to open this summer, will experience one visual surprise after another and be immersed in Wabanaki culture along the way. That’s intentional, according to Jennifer Neptune, a member of the Wabanaki advisory board that collaborated with the architects who designed the building.

Jennifer Neptune, a Penobscot artist, writer and educator, took this selfie last fall while standing in front of an art panel she designed that has been installed in the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The center opens this summer. Photo by Jennifer Neptune

The contact station is aptly named Tekαkαpimək, pronounced “de gah-gah bee mook,” which means “as far as one can see” in the Penobscot language. The approach road rises and meanders through thick forest toward the station. An overlook frames a stunning eastern view of the landscape that the Indigenous tribes in Maine call Dawnland.

From the parking area, gravel paths mimic the nearby East Branch of the Penobscot River, scaling Maine granite steps to the station’s front doors. Once inside, visitors will be drawn past soaring timber columns and interpretive displays on Wabanaki culture, arriving finally before a massive window and balcony with an astonishing view of Mount Katahdin.

“The building has the most beautiful view of Katahdin,” said Neptune, a Penobscot artist, writer and educator. “Visitors will be oriented to that place with a Wabanaki world view.”

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is emblematic of the attention and awareness that’s building around opportunities to increase travel, tourism, recreation and education related to the culture and heritage of the Wabanaki, or “People of the First Light.” In addition to the Penobscot Nation, whose ancestral lands include the national monument established in 2016, the Wabanaki include Maliseet, Mi’kmaq and Passamaquoddy tribes that have lived in the region for millennia. Advertisement

The mounting effort to promote Wabanaki cultural tourism was featured at the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held last month in Portland, and it’s part of a global trend that’s mining growing interest in Indigenous tourism worldwide . The U.N. Tourism General Assembly identified the potential for growth in this segment of the travel industry in 2017, defining cultural tourism as activity that taps a visitor’s desire to experience a community’s distinctive history, lifestyle, beliefs and traditions.

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, founded by tribes in 1998, serves a $14 billion Native hospitality sector, which today includes Indigenous cultural sites in California, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, the Grand Canyon and along Route 66. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada was formed in 2009 to promote authentic Native tourism experiences, and there are similar travel opportunities in New Zealand, Australia and Scandinavia.

“Travelers are interested in the culture and heritage of the destinations they are visiting and the Wabanaki culture goes back 12,000 years,” said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism.

DEVELOPING A FORMAL PLAN

Wabanaki leaders say cultural tourism is nothing new to their people, whose basket-making skills and other talents have long fostered cross-cultural exchanges with European colonizers and their descendants.

Often the outcome was disastrous, as the newcomers seized land and relegated Indigenous people to remote areas. Sometimes there was recognition, even parity. In the mid-1800s, Henry David Thoreau hired Penobscot guides to lead him on trips that resulted in “The Maine Woods,” a popular collection of his essays and poems . Advertisement

Artisans make clay tiles for the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station on Lookout Mountain in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Photo by Erin Hutton

But now, the state tourism office is supporting Four Directions Development Corp. in forging its Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Initiative, providing over $270,000 in grant funding and technical assistance. The initiative grew out of the state’s first Tribal Economic Development Summit, which was convened in 2019 by the office and Four Directions, along with representatives of each tribe.

Four Directions is a nonprofit community development corporation and a Native community development financial institution certified by the U.S. Treasury Department. Established in 2001 by the Penobscot Nation, it strives to improve socioeconomic conditions for the four Wabanaki tribes in Maine through education and investment in affordable housing and business ventures.

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Many of the nearly 8,700 Wabanaki members live in Aroostook and Washington counties – the northern and eastern portions of the state – in what are among the most economically challenged counties in the country, according to Four Directions. In addition to the Penobscot Nation at Indian Island, near Old Town, they include the Mi’kmac Nation in Presque Isle, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Passamaquoddy communities at Pleasant Point and Indian Township, near Calais.

An artist’s rendering of the eastern lookout at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Rendering by Reed Hilderbrand & WeShouldDoItAll

The cultural tourism initiative has been surveying tribal leaders and assessing existing community resources and infrastructure to develop a comprehensive tourism plan that will promote Wabanaki heritage and contemporary culture, said Charlene Virgilio, a Penobscot member who is executive director of Four Directions.

Charlene Virgilio, executive director of Four Directions Development Corp.  Courtesy of Charlene Virgilio

The tourism plan is expected to include strategies to engage Wabanaki youth in career development and cultural preservation. It also aims to establish an Indigenous Maine Guide program, a native tourism alliance and a Wabanaki tourism destination marketing organization.

“The goal is, by 2030, the Wabanaki tribes will have a robust tourism industry,” Virgilio said. “They’ll decide what they want to do.” Advertisement

Critical to the decision-making process will be figuring out how to promote access to Indigenous places and build the infrastructure to host visitors – hotels, restaurants, gathering spaces, parking areas, shuttles – without compromising Wabanaki values or destroying the locations tourists want to see, including sacred sites that will remain off limits.

Important aspects of the tourism plan will include developing community pride and sustainable economic vitality for the tribes. Gaining economic and political sovereignty has long been a goal of the Wabanaki tribes, including 2023 legislation Gov. Janet Mills vetoed because of legal concerns and that the Legislature failed to override . The tourism plan also will call for public education and environmental awareness efforts to foster cross-cultural understanding and break down stereotypes.

“Some people come to Maine and they don’t even know we have tribes,” Virgilio said. “But the tourism industry is shifting to be more culturally aligned with who we are as a people. With the emphasis on nature and sustainability, that’s who we’ve always been. It definitely resonates with who we are, our cultural beliefs and how we take care of the land.”

RECOGNIZING WABANAKI CULTURE

On the front end of the trend, the Portland Museum of Art has emphasized Wabanaki artists in programming since its “You Can’t Get There From Here” exhibition of contemporary Maine art in 2015. It’s part of the museum’s commitment to representing artists and patrons of all backgrounds in its displays and collections.

“It’s all about wanting to be more equitable and diverse in the stories we tell,” said museum spokesman Graeme Kennedy. “We’re tapped into what people are looking for from their museums.” Advertisement

An artist’s rendering of the south wing of the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The visitor center, which opens Aug. 17, features displays about Wabanaki culture and history. Rendering by Aleksey Mokhov and WeShouldDoItAll

This summer, the museum will feature the work of Jeremy Frey, a seventh-generation Passamaquoddy basket maker in what the museum describes as “the first-ever major retrospective of a Wabanaki artist in a fine art museum in the United States.”

Running May 24 through Sept. 15, “Woven” will present 50 of Frey’s baskets made from black ash and sweetgrass. “It’s a love letter to the Maine landscape,” said Ramey Mize, the museum’s American art curator.

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In Bar Harbor, the Abbe Museum, which is dedicated to advancing Wabanaki heritage, culture and homelands, will hold its first Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas on July 12-14 at the College of the Atlantic.

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station under construction in April 2023. Photo by Gary Stern

Supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the state tourism office, the free festival is billed as an evolution of the museum’s former Indian Market and Native American Festival, which featured invitation-only native arts and performances.

The Dawnland Festival will add talks by Wabanaki and other Indigenous leaders on some of the biggest questions facing society today, including climate change, democracy and food systems. Speakers will include Penobscot attorney and author Sherri Mitchell, James Beard Award-winning chef Sherry Pocknett, of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Native rights attorney Michael-Corey F. Hinton, who is Passamaquoddy.

“Native arts and cultures cannot be separated from Native ways of knowing,” Betsy Richards, a Cherokee Nation citizen, executive director of the museum and senior partner with Wabanaki Nations, said in a statement. Advertisement

Other museums that feature Wabanaki culture and heritage include the Penobscot Nation Museum at Indian Island, Passamaquoddy Cultural Heritage Museum at Indian Township, Wabanaki Culture Center in Calais, Hudson Museum at the University of Maine and the Maine State Museum.

SHARING INDIGENOUS HERITAGE

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness also plans to embrace aspects of Native cultural tourism at The Healing Lodge in Millinocket, which offers intensive outpatient services and traditional healing practices to tribal members battling substance use disorder, trauma and other mental health issues.

Nearby is The Gathering Place, a 50-acre property in the shadow of Mount Katahdin that includes 40 campsites, a sweat lodge and areas for smudging circles and other culturally centered healing experiences.

The agency plans to open the Millinocket sites to nonindigenous people as soon as summer 2025, recognizing that others may benefit from Native healing programs and wellness excursions with Mount Katahdin as the backdrop.

Lisa Sockabasin,co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness Courtesy of Lisa Sockabasin

“There are so many nonindigenous people who want to heal the way we heal,” said Lisa Sockabasin, a Passamaquoddy member who is the agency’s co-CEO. “It’s about connecting people to each other and to the land.” Advertisement

In the meantime, the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and its partners are preparing to open Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to the public Aug. 17-18.

Managed by the National Park Service, the 87,000-acre monument beside Baxter State Park was donated to the United States by Roxanne Quimby, who founded Burt’s Bees and made a fortune when she sold it. It includes a 17-mile loop road, trails for hiking, mountain biking and snowmobiling, and paddling access along the Penobscot River’s East Branch.

The privately funded contact station is the focus of a $35 million fundraising campaign that received $10 million from the Quimby family and foundations and $1 million from the National Park Foundation. The campaign still has to raise $5 million to complete the project, which includes sustainable off-grid heating and cooling systems, accessible paths and access routes, and interpretive exhibits and artwork reflecting Wabanaki culture. Norwegian company Saunders Architecture designed the building.

An artist’s rendering of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Courtesy of Saunders Architecture and Mir

Neptune, who consulted on the design, was also a member of the Wabanaki advisory board that led the development of exhibits and programming. She wrote the text for the exhibits and designed art panels that have been installed above three fireplaces in the contact station.

Printed on large wooden panels, the design features a bear and birds on a brown background resembling a birchbark etching. The panels and all of the materials on display in the contact station that reflect Indigenous cultural knowledge and intellectual property are owned by the Wabanaki Nations.

The recognition of Wabanaki culture within the contact station is extraordinary and moving for Neptune and other tribal members involved in the project. It’s an aspect of cultural tourism that validates their place in the world and the symbiotic relationship they have with the land and the water and all other beings.

“Often, we’re lucky to get a paragraph recognizing Wabanaki people,” Neptune said. “It’s hard to belong to a place and never see yourself in the visitor centers or museums and other places.”

At Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, she said, the Wabanaki will be able to share their traditions and keep them strong for future generations.

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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

President Chaves’ Legislative Address: A Tale of Two Costa Ricas

Costa rica may gardening: tips and tricks for a bountiful harvest, costa rica drops in world press freedom index 2024, new san josé mayor aims to reclaim public spaces, costa rica’s president seeks citizen vote on reforms, corcovado’s delicate ecosystem at risk due to increased tourism.

Corcovado National Park has a unique biodiversity, which must be protected. Therefore, the Osa neighbors expressed their concern over the decision the Osa Conservation Area (ACOSA) made to double the daily access to the Sirena Station in Corcovado National Park, as revealed by the Costa Rican media outlet Delfino.

The maximum daily visitation to this area of the park increased from 120 people to 240, distributed in two shifts at 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. The measure was implemented by ACOSA because Corcovado is a protected wilderness area recognized in our country and in the world thanks to its biological intensity, which makes it a special site for attracting tourism.

The local community also denounced neglect of the Los Patos and La Leona areas and an increase in the use of the area as a transit point for drug trafficking. Neighbors have reported crowds of tourists at the park entrance, limited water access, and mass visitation in an area with vast and delicate wildlife.

The National Park is home to several vulnerable species. They also pointed out that the decision was taken after a series of workshops with the park’s stakeholders but did not include experts, public institutions, or researchers.

In addition, locals believe there is no environmental technical basis to justify the increase in capacity, and there have been no studies conducted on the protected area to demonstrate its impact.

According to Carlos Eduardo Castro Rojas, legal representative of the company Ecoturístico La Tarde to Mena Corea and CONAC, and who lives in Puerto Límenes, this increase in visits reduced the opportunities for visitors to explore other local projects on the Osa Peninsula while waiting to enter the Sirena sector, affecting the entire rural tourism sector of the Osa Peninsula. “

Visitors do not need to stay overnight in the Osa because in one day they can visit Corcovado and leave the Peninsula without consuming more than the services related to the visit to Corcovado National Park,” he said.

However, there are some hotel owners who are thrilled as this increasae represents more income, but smaller businesses are suffering.

The greatest risk is that Corcovado will become a destination for mass tourism, which would threaten the flora and fauna of one of the world’s most biodiverse and fragile ecosystems.

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