Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Established by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, World Tourism Day (WTD) has been celebrated on September 27th every year since 1980.

This year's WTD theme is "One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities," a campaign designed to raise awareness of the important impact tourism has on countries and communities around the world and its potential as a force for good, creating a better world for all.

Since tourism is one of the main activities in "Mexico's Most Authentic Port," the city of Puerto Vallarta will celebrate World Tourism Day for two days, and the Municipal Tourism Department has prepared a series of activities that will make this a celebration not only of tourism but also of the people of Puerto Vallarta.

According to Puerto Vallarta's Director of Tourism, Oscar Perez Flores, this year's two-day celebration will showcase the city's art, culture and food, as well as the service providers who have dedicated their lives to the promotion of the destination.

The festivities begin on September 26 with an opening ceremony in the courtyard of the presidency, starting at 7:00 pm. This will be followed by the Los Rostros de la Sonrisa de Vallarta (The Faces of Vallarta's Smile) award ceremony for local businesses that have delivered exceptional tourism services for over 30 years, those who have given their best to our visitors day after day, thereby contributing to Puerto Vallarta being recognized as a warm and friendly city.

Later, a ribbon cutting ceremony will unveil the new artwork and sculptures on display in city hall and it's exterior corridors. This will be followed by a Food Fair in association with CANIRAC featuring over 20 area restaurants offering a taste of Puerto Vallarta and its regional cuisines.

On Sunday September 27, the program continues at 8:30 pm with the presentation of the 'International Assembly of Art, Culture and Entertainment' to be held at different points along the Malecón, encouraging everyone to take a spectacular sunset stroll through downtown. The first stop along the route is on the corner of Calle Allende, the next on Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, then down to Aldama in front of the Rotonda del Mar sculpture, and on to the lighthouse, before ending your stroll at Los Arcos del Malecón.

The celebrations will close with a bang as a fireworks display lights up Banderas Bay.

"We want this event to truly be for all Vallartenses, to be a cause for festivity, for joy, for celebrating the backbone of Puerto Vallarta - which is tourism - something that we are all a part of because we all make Puerto Vallarta the friendliest city in the world," Oscar Perez Flores concluded.