Europcar, the leader in car hire services in Europe, was today supporting World Responsible Tourism Day at WTM 2014, by unveiling the Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid SE Saloon. The car represents the future of the Europcar fleet as the car rental provider continues its pledge to help reduce the global impact of tourism.

World Tourism Day (WTD) 2012 will be celebrated under the theme “Tourism&Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development,” inviting everyone involved in tourism – from governments to businesses and tourists themselves – to learn more about the sustainable energy initiatives in place in the tourism sector, debate what more should be done, and advance the use of sustainable energy in tourism.

Excellent weather and great enthusiasm accompanied tourism day celebrations in the city of Cape Town yesterday.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has today urged governments to recognise the vast economic and social contribution of travel and tourism - particularly as a driver of sustainable economic growth and revival. Speaking on World Tourism Day, WTTC president David Scowsill, said: “Today, on World Tourism Day, we call on governments around the world to recognise the central role that our industry plays in their economies today, as well as its leading role as a driver of global sustainable economic recovery.”

With just a few days to go until World Tourism Day (September 27), the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the five photos and five “tweets” from among the hundreds of entries submitted to the 2011 World Tourism Day (WTD) competitions that best reflect the 2011 theme, “Tourism – Linking Cultures.”

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has released an official message of support for World Tourism Day 2011, which will be celebrated on 27 September under the theme ‘Tourism – Linking Cultures’.