World Tourism Day is observed annually on September 27.
In 2025, the theme is “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” emphasizing the growing importance of environmentally conscious travel. Sustainable tourism is about making responsible choices—minimizing harm to the planet and local communities while creating lasting, positive impacts for future generations.
OHAC – Gorilla Health is proud to join the global celebration by raising awareness about the importance of gorilla tourism, approached through the One Health framework which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. Learn more about our work in gorillahealth.org.
The official World Tourism Day celebration will take place in Melaka, Malaysia, from September 27–29, during the World Tourism Conference. The event will feature sessions on inclusive tourism, artificial intelligence, innovation, and sustainable investment . Participants include policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, all exploring how tourism can evolve to better serve both people and the planet. At least four European initiatives have also been confirmed, ranging from workshops and forums to cultural events.
At OHAC – Gorilla Health, our work is grounded in a multidisciplinary One Health approach that combines veterinary science, primatological research, and community-based conservation . We are committed to protecting mountain gorillas through health care, disease prevention, research, and education.
As a mountain gorilla doctor and guardian of their health , I often see social media videos in others countries where people touching or being touched by gorillas. Please respect the 10 meters distance as per our recommendation during gorilla visitation. This behavior must be strongly discouraged. Not only is it unsafe, it poses serious health risks to both humans and gorillas.
Touching gorillas is not a sign of connection . It’s a threat to their survival . Promoting or sharing such content online normalizes dangerous interactions and undermines years of conservation work. Close contact increases the risk of disease transmission, a reality the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health documented (https://gorillahealth.org/scientific-publications/).
I urge everyone to respect distance guidelines and prioritize the well-being of these critically endangered animals.
Join us at OHAC – Gorilla Health as we continue to protect one of the world’s most iconic species. Through science, tradition, tourism, and community engagement, we work together to build a sustainable future for mountain gorillas and the ecosystems we call home.
“By protecting our national parks and forests, we preserve a priceless natural heritage shared by the entire world
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
Your donation or involvement helps us make a lasting impact on gorilla conservation. https://gorillahealth.org/donation-page/
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
Please join our a support our work on SAVING WILD GORILLA
You can contact our organization via by email: info@gorillahealth.org/ ohac2004@gmail.com
www.gorillahealth.org – Tel: 0788640986
