Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared Tuesday, September 27, 2016 as “World Tourism Day” to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s celebration will take place in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, under the theme: “Tourism for All-Promoting Universal Accessibility”.

On this day, President Sirleaf hopes that all Liberians will celebrate the value of tourism for all, promoting Universal Accessibility, and work together in making tourism a great market potential and great business opportunity.

According to the proclamation, accessibility for all should therefore be at the heart and at the center of tourism policies and business strategies and also, as a great market potential and as a great business opportunity.

Liberia is looking forward to work with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international and regional organizations and all other stakeholders to make this opportunity a success for all, states the Proclamation.

The Proclamation noted that 15 percent of the world’s population is estimated to live with some kind of disability or another who may be unable to experience the thrill of embarking on a journey to explore new sights and new places.

“Africa received according to still wanted data available, a total of 53 million international tourists, 5% of the world’s total. In 2015, the 1,184 million international tourists traveled the world, which represent 50 million more than in 2014,” the Proclamation states.

“Today there are around 1.2 billion people traveling the world, traveling has become a huge part of many people’s lives, while in 1950 there were nearly 25 million international tourists crossing in a single year, stressed the proclamation.”

Despite many challenges, including increasing safety and security concerns, internationally tourism continues to grow at the global level.

The Member States of the United Nations have declared September 27 of each year as World Tourism Day to foster awareness on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value.