As the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India rolls out the red carpet for the delegates at its 4th conclusive G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Goa today, the deliberations and discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the tourism sector will make up a significant meeting agenda for the participants.
Over eight guest countries, including the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Mauritius, UAE, Bangladesh, Israel, Nigeria and Oman, will join approximately 75 registered delegates in the discussions, the tourism ministry officials revealed during a pre-event press conference yesterday. Additionally, the G20 Tourism Ministerial meeting will see the participation of close to 150 delegates.
The meetings, scheduled from June 19 to 22, aim to advance the tourism sector and will see the Tourism ministers, Heads of Delegations and delegates from G20 member countries, invited countries, industry stakeholders and international organisations jointly working towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Besides, there will be bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Tourism meet in Goa. This, said the Ministry officials, will be focused on enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. The meetings scheduled to take place on June 21 will be chaired by Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy.
The Ministry of Tourism has also expressed its hope to carve a lasting legacy from India’s G20 Presidency by harnessing the potential of tourism to achieve the sustainable development goals. As part of this commitment, the Ministry has announced the upcoming launch of the ‘G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard’, a project developed in collaboration with the UNWTO.
The public dashboard will provide a showcase of best practices and case studies from G20 countries, highlighting their exemplary efforts in alignment with the five priority areas identified by the G20 Tourism Working Group. By featuring successful initiatives and sharing valuable insights, the dashboard will serve as a valuable resource for knowledge exchange and inspiration.
The dashboard, accessible for governments, tourism stakeholders, and interested individuals, will also help in co-creating and finalising the Goa Roadmap for tourism under India’s G20 Presidency.
A side event at the Tourism Working Group Meeting in Goa will discuss the initiative which is a collaboration between UNEP and UNWTO. This event aims to engage tourism stakeholders in adopting circular approaches throughout the tourism value chain to combat plastic pollution while inviting new organisations to join the cause. Some current signatories include Leela Palaces, CGH Earth Experience Hotels, ITC Hotels, SITA, TCI, TAAI, among others.
The Goa Roadmap for tourism is one of the identified two key deliverables by the Tourism Working Group to achieve sustainable development goals; the other one is the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration. The Ministry of Tourism has made significant progress in finalising both the deliverables, asserted the Tourism Secretary, V Vidyavathi.
When asked if any tentative list of discussion points for drafting Goa Roadmap are collated by MoT before the working session on June 20, VIdyavathi, said that five interconnected priorities including Green Tourism, Digitalisation, Skills, Tourism MSMEs and Destination Management, will make for the core discussions before leading to final draft and plan of action.
The secretary said that these interconnected priority areas will be discussed to understand their impact on each other in the tourism sector. The discussions will also shape the roadmap being developed, which is expected to be finalised in the next two days, said Vidyavathi.
On Goa being one of the well known global tourist destinations, Vidyavathi stated that it will be the “perfect grand finale” for the G20 Tourism Working Group meetings held to date. The previous three meetings have been held at Rann of Kutch, Siliguri and Srinagar (J&K).
She added that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, landscape and rich heritage and culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of the tourism working group. She also applauded the state government for their unprecedented support and warm hospitality.
Besides the main meeting, side events focusing on crucial initiatives such as Cruise Tourism, the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative, and Public Private Sector collaborations are being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Scheduled today, the side event on cruise tourism will also witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of this segment globally. On June 20, a national-level side event will concentrate on making India a hub for cruise tourism, involving key states, union territories, industry stakeholders, and experts, informed Vidyavathi.
Giving details, the secretary said that a ‘Public Private Dialogue: Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies’ is also being co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism in Goa on June 21 in association with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
This dialogue, she said, is an opportunity for participants to ‘learn and share’ their priorities and concerns and identify opportunities for mutual support, leading to greater public-private partnership.
Additionally, the event “Towards a Circular Economy of Plastics in Tourism” will feature introductory remarks, a keynote presentation on the GTPI‘s action framework, a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders, and a signing ceremony urging the organisations to join the GTPI, which already has 145 signatories on board.
On the sidelines of the last tourism group meeting, the G20 delegates will also have the opportunity to explore Goa’s cultural heritage, with visits to local attractions and a special yoga session planned on the sidelines of International Yoga Day. The state government will organise an Art and Craft Bazaar, showcasing local handicrafts and artisans, along with cultural programs to highlight Goa’s rich cultural heritage.
