«Tourism and Sustainable Transformation»: the Department of Economics, Management and Finance marked World Tourism Day 2025

On 30 September, to mark World Tourism Day – celebrated annually on 27 September since 1980 (and in Ukraine since 1998) – faculty and students of the Department of Economics, Management and Finance (degree programs «Management of Organizations» and «Management of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Services») held an interactive event dedicated to the 2025 theme: «Tourism and Sustainable Transformation».

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) emphasizes that tourism has a powerful transformational potential as an agent of positive change. This calls not merely for growth, but for a thoughtful approach: sound governance, strategic planning, resilience, and social equity as key decision-making criteria.

This philosophy fully aligns with Ukraine’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to 2030. Sustainable tourism is a comprehensive model that simultaneously considers current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts.

During the event, three core pillars of sustainable tourism were examined in detail:

• Environmental – conservation of natural heritage, efficient resource management, and promotion of ecotourism;
• Social – positive community impact, preservation of cultural heritage, and accessibility;
• Economic – decent work and career opportunities, support for local entrepreneurs, and long-term competitiveness.

Environmental pollution, resource depletion, and the loss of cultural identity are the reverse side of the tourism coin. The task for future professionals is to minimize these negative effects by applying the principles of sustainable transformation. Students reviewed and discussed practical steps for implementing the SDGs in everyday life, guided by the booklet «The Sustainable Development Goals Start with You».

The event continued with a lightning quiz, «Sustainability in action», in which students demonstrated rapid mastery of the material by identifying which SDGs are supported – or violated – by real-world examples from the tourism sector.

In celebrating World Tourism Day under the theme «Tourism and Sustainable Transformation», participants reached an important conclusion: sustainability is not merely a trend or a one-off environmental action. It is a comprehensive business model and the only pathway to high-quality, long-term development of the sector.

Recognizing that sustainable tourism is key to balanced and responsible recovery of the industry in the Ukrainian context, the Department of Economics, Management and Finance launched a new initiative: the BSPU Student Tourism Hub (STH BSPU), which was presented during the event.

STH BSPU is an innovative learning space for high-quality professional training that bridges theory and practice, engaging students in:

• Learning activities: trainings in management, marketing, and tour guiding;
• Practical activities: organizing trips, developing unique sustainable itineraries, and volunteer projects;
• Research activities: conducting studies in sustainable tourism and preparing publications.

Joining the Hub is an opportunity to gain practical skills, create real tourism products, expand your network, and discover new career paths.

The first step is to enter the logo design competition for the Student Tourism Hub! Your visual concept can become the face of our innovation platform. All details and requirements are available on the department’s social media page:
https://www.instagram.com/kafedra_emf_bdpu/?igsh=MW9zcnBxaWlsZjBxaA

Remember: Tourism is a field of opportunity. You are the future leaders who can – and must – build the industry responsibly.

Based on materials from the Department of Economics, Management and Finance