Tourism "can become an important source of well-being and sustainable development for the entire planet" as well as an opportunity "for building roads to peace". This is the Message of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People on the occasion of World Tourism Day which, as usual, will be celebrated on 27 September. This year’s theme is "One billion tourists, one billion opportunities". "It was 2012 – the Message begins – when the symbolic barrier of one billion international tourist arrivals was surpassed. Now the numbers continue to grow so much that the forecasts estimate a new threshold of two billion will be reached in 2030. To this data even higher figures related to local tourism must be added". "We are in a phase of change – the Message continues – in which the way of moving is changing and consequently the experience of traveling as well. Those who go to countries different from their own do so with the more or less conscious desire to reawaken the most hidden part of themselves through encounter, sharing and confrontation. More and more, a tourist is in search of direct contact with what is different in its extra-ordinariness". "By now the classic concept of a ‘tourist’ is fading while that of a ‘traveler’ has become stronger: that is, someone who does not limit himself to visiting a place but in some way becomes an integral part of it". (continued)” ” ” “” “” “