Stockholm, Sweden - In support of United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 is being held under the theme Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future.

World Tourism Day has been celebrated annually on September 27th since 1980. This year’s theme highlights tourism’s role in water access and shines a spotlight on the actions currently being taken by the sector in order to contribute to a more sustainable water future, as well as the challenges ahead.

And, since 2013 is being marked as the International Year of Water Cooperation, this year’s World Water Week (Sept 1-6) is dedicated to Water Cooperation – Building Partnerships to reflect the topic chosen by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), being the lead Agency to coordinate the celebrations of this International Year on behalf of UN-Water, has put a special effort into participating and contributing to this year’s World Water Week celebration.

Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, will be attending the Opening Ceremony and will be engaging in the High Level Panel to discuss related issues, such as how more effective cooperation can enable us to reach water wise decision and goals and thus contribute to sustainable development and peace.

UNESCO and its Water Family – the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), its network of experts, UNESCO Chairs and Centers, and the World Assessment Programme (WWAP) – are highly involved in many sessions and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of topics ranging from water security to climate change adaptation, education, transboundary waters management, capacity building and training, and water governance, among others.

This year's official World Water Week celebrations will take place in the Maldives and include a Think Tank on the 2013 theme with the participation of top experts and policy makers in the field of tourism and water.

Be part of World Tourism Day 2013! Take part in the upcoming WTD Photo Competition, join the conversation on Twitter, or stay up to date on all of the WTD 2013 happenings on Facebook.