Which international organization declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development?

Introduction / Context:
International years are often declared to highlight specific themes that require global attention. In twenty seventeen, the theme of sustainable tourism for development was emphasised through an official International Year. Knowing which organisation declared it is important for current affairs relating to international organisations and sustainable development.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in twenty seventeen. - Four major international institutions are listed as options. - Only one of these bodies formally declares United Nations international years.

Concept / Approach:
International years are usually proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. For twenty seventeen, the United Nations declared the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization playing a lead role in implementation. Therefore, the correct answer is United Nations, not the trade or financial institutions listed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the United Nations regularly declares international years and decades on themes like water, youth or indigenous languages. Step 2: Identify that sustainable tourism for development is directly connected with wider goals in the United Nations system, especially the Sustainable Development Goals. Step 3: Recognise that the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund focus primarily on trade rules and financial stability and do not declare United Nations international years. Step 4: Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank and also does not have the authority to proclaim international years for all countries. Step 5: Conclude that the only appropriate organisation in the list that declares such an international year is the United Nations.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official United Nations documents and the website of the United Nations World Tourism Organization describe twenty seventeen explicitly as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. This independent confirmation supports choosing United Nations as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Asian Development Bank is a regional lending institution and does not have a global mandate to declare international years for all countries. World Trade Organization deals with multilateral trade agreements rather than tourism themed international years. International Monetary Fund focuses on macroeconomic stability and financial issues, not on declaring thematic international years in the United Nations sense.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the United Nations World Tourism Organization with the World Trade Organization because both abbreviations contain the word world. Another pitfall is selecting any economic institution when the theme involves development. Remembering that formal international years are proclaimed by the United Nations helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in twenty seventeen was declared by the United Nations.