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17 February: What is celebrated today
17 February brings together a surprisingly diverse set of commemorations: from the resilience of the tourism sector after one of the worst global crises, to the urgent need to promote responsible gambling, the importance of orofacial development in childhood, and, in the United States, the national tribute to its presidents. It is a day marked by recovery, prevention, health, and civic memory; a reminder of how fragile structures—economic, social, biological, or historical—can be, and how societies find ways to protect, repair, or celebrate them.
World Tourism Resilience Day
Every 17 February recognises the ability of tourism to withstand, adapt to, and reinvent itself in the face of global crises. The United Nations (UN) proclaimed this day to highlight the multisectoral role of tourism as an economic driver, a source of employment, a cultural tool, and an essential path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The memory of 2020—the year without tourism—remains a reference point. The pandemic paralysed travel, slashed incomes, deepened poverty in regions dependent on the sector, and exposed its vulnerability. However, it also revealed its remarkable capacity for recovery: digital innovation, international partnerships, new sustainability policies, and a transformative vision aiming for fairer and greener tourism.
Institutions such as the Centro Global de Resiliencia Turística y Gestión de Crisis promote strategies for disaster preparedness, climate change, or health crises. This day invites governments, businesses, and citizens to strengthen the network of resilience that supports one of the most interconnected sectors on the planet.
International Responsible Gaming Day
17 February also serves to raise awareness of the risks of uncontrolled gambling—including online betting—and to promote ethical and healthy practices. Established in 2008 at the initiative of the EGBA, this day aims to curb the rise of gambling addiction, a clinically recognised disorder affecting increasingly younger people.
Warning signs—needing to bet more, loss of control, secrecy, debt—show how gambling can shift from entertainment to destructive compulsion. Documentaries, educational campaigns, and strict regulations help raise awareness of the dangers of illegal gambling and the importance of strong policies to protect users.
This day advocates for a culture where gambling is fun, without endangering mental health or family wellbeing.
World Orofacial Motricity Day
This commemoration, created in 2015 and dedicated to the speech therapist Irene Marchesan, highlights the crucial role of speech therapists in child development. Orofacial motricity covers basic functions such as speaking, chewing, or swallowing, all dependent on the muscles of the lips, tongue, jaw, and palate.
Disorders in this area can affect not only communication but also nutrition and a child's quality of life. That is why early assessment, interdisciplinary intervention, and professional support are essential. The day seeks to raise the profile of this branch of health—sometimes little known—and to recognise the transformative impact of speech therapy work.
Presidents' Day (United States)
On the third Monday of February, the United States celebrates a national holiday dedicated to honouring George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and all the presidents who have shaped the country's history. The date coincides with the birth month of both leaders, symbols of foundation, unity, and emancipation.
In addition to official ceremonies, for many the day is a midwinter break marked by family activities and civic commemorations. Symbols such as Mount Rushmore—with the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln carved in granite—recall the historical dimension of this political leadership and its legacy in American identity.