President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Saturday, September 27 as World Tourism Day and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a WORKING HOLIDAY.

A Foreign Ministry Press Release says this year celebration of World Tourism Day will be held around the world under the theme: “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”, a theme which can sensitize all Liberians to the preservation of touristic potential and spur tourism in the country.

The Proclamation states that tourism is a gateway to greater understanding of the world beyond national borders, as well as the first step in building peace between communities and nations.

According to the release, tourism has the potential to promote opportunities for maintaining places of attraction, which ultimately advance the role of communities in support of sustainable development around the world.

The Proclamation also states that 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 values.