UNWTO launches 'One billion tourists: One billion opportunities' campaign

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new campaign to encourage sustainable tourism as the world gets set to see the one billionth tourist this month.      

13 December 2012 – A record one billion tourists are expected to travel internationally by the end of 2012. Reaching one billion tourists is not only a major achievement for the tourism sector, but a unique opportunity to remind the world of the importance of tourism to economic growth, jobs and development.

To celebrate this milestone UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) campaign: One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities has focused on encouraging sustainable tourism and called on the world’s tourists to make their actions count.

It asked them to vote for the travel tip they think will have the most positive impact on the people and places they visit and to follow that tip when they travel. On 13 December - the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist - the most popular tip has been revealed and sent out to millions via social media.

Coach and bus tourism is one of the most sustainable forms of tourism that can have one of the biggest positive impacts on local communities. "Using public transport" has scored fourth on the winning tip top list. So get smart and take the bus to make your actions count when travelling.