World Tourism Day 2025 celebrations in Melaka highlighted the continuous transformation of Tourism, Ettravelworld

Global leaders, policy makers, industry experts and local communities gathered this week in Melaka, Malaysia to mark World Tourism Day 2025 alongside the 7th World Tourism Conference. Organized in partnership with UN Tourism and the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the event marked a milestone for placing sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of global tourism.

The celebrations, centered on the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, highlighted the role of tourism as a driver of social progress, economic growth and environmental stewardship. Malaysia used the platform to showcase its rich cultural heritage, landscapes and stewardship of sustainability, while affirming tourism’s commitment to becoming a force for resilience and prosperity.

Opening the event, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, welcomed the participants from all over the world. Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Yusof stressed the importance of balancing economic progress with social responsibility and environmental protection. It highlighted initiatives such as digital nomadic hubs, sustainable aviation fuel and community-driven ecotourism, including the UN Tourism Development Network Malaysia, UN Tourism Observatory network through the Pilot Project in Johor. Sometimes in the message of the United Nations António Guterres, “Tourism” is a powerful driver of tourism. UN tourism secretary Zurab Pololikashvili echoed this sentiment, saying that the Melaka celebrations demonstrated that “tourism can be a force for good as it is guided by sustainability and sophistication”.

The program featured high-level panels, cultural showcases and strategic discussions designed to inspire collaboration and practical solutions. Education and skills development emerged as key priorities, with a strong focus on empowering women, youth and marginalized communities through training and employment. Digital innovation was another central theme with calls to support start-ups, invest in digital education and close the gap for rural and post-conflict societies. The use of cultural exchanges to promote small and medium-sized enterprises, benefiting local communities and protect heritage also emerged as part of the discussion.

The 7th World Tourism Conference presented sessions on a framework for collaboration, digital transformation, climate-neutral travel and community-based models. The dialogue highlighted the need for innovative strategies, the need to strengthen the resilience of tourism to ensure inland and sustainable development.

As the festivities draw to a close, Malaysia has officially handed over hosting rights for World Tourism Day 2026, where the focus will shift to “The Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”. Next year’s theme will focus on digital transformation and how AI can change the global tourism industry.

With World Tourism Day 2025, Melaka has firmly placed itself on the global map as a champion of responsible and transformative tourism, reinforcing the growing role of Malaysia’s growing leadership in shaping the industry’s sustainable future.

Join the 2M+ community of industry professionals.

Subscribe to the newsletter to get the latest insights and analysis in your inbox.

EttravelWorld industry on your smartphone.