Last in the league of G20’s Tourism Track, The Ministry of Tourism is heading towards its conclusive and highly anticipated fourth G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting, set to take place from June June 19 to 22, 2023 in Goa.
With the objective of furthering the G20 tourism track’s key interconnected priority areas, Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi announced that the spotlight will be on the promotion of cruise tourism during the planned side events at the TWG meet in Goa.
Sharing details on the upcoming meet and its agenda, Vidyavathi said that a side event titled “Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel” will kick off the proceedings on June 19 followed by the inauguration.
“Buoyed by the success of Ganga Vilas Cruise in India that has given a fillip to the cruise tourism sector in India, we want to build on the same and continue that momentum that has been set in front of us,” shared Vidyavathi.
The world’s longest, MV Ganga Vilas Luxury Cruise, operated by Antara Cruises, was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2023, covering a journey of 51 days from Varanasi to Dibrugarh.
The event will also explore strategies to promote cruise tourism and discuss the challenges and opportunities for its global growth, involving suggestions from the G20 member countries, invited countries, international organisations, and industry stakeholders.
Speakers from G20 member countries and guest countries will share insights into country-specific policies nd initiatives, emphasising the importance of making cruise tourism sustainable and responsible, said the secretary.
On June 20, a national-level side event titled “Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism” will take place, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for developing cruise tourism in the country while following sustainability principles.
The event will encompass discussions on various facets of cruise tourism, including Coastal Island, Regional, and Yachting perspectives. Key stakeholders including Antara Cruises, representatives from coastal and riverine states, private and public sectors and waterways will participate in these discussions, sharing their perspectives and expertise, Vidyavathi informed.
Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism is organising a side event in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) titled “Towards a Circular Economy of Plastics in Tourism—the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative.”
Vidyavathi shared that the event aims to encourage engagement from tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches in the tourism value chain. “This is to ensure our tourism destinations are green, clean and environment friendly,” she shared.
The event will include high-level introductory remarks, a keynote presentation on the proposed action framework, a panel discussion, and a signing ceremony for organisations adhering to the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI).
With a focus on accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this event aims to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development in the region, stated Vidyavathi.
“We are closely aligning tourism with sustainability and the sector is a part of the Sustainable Development Strategy for India and the world,” she added.
Under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group has been diligently working on five interconnected priority areas, including Green Tourism, Digitalisation, Skilling, Tourism MSMEs and better Destination Management.
The Tourism Working Group has two key deliverables which will be finalised during the meeting: the GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development goals and the G20 Tourism Ministers Declaration.
The historic town is undergoing a massive transformation as the Ministry of Culture is leading the holistic development of the town, planned in four phases. Plans are afoot to push tourism through the Archaeological Experiential Museum, tourism circuits, trails and redevelopment projects. Vadnagar is strategically located near other popular attractions like the Sun Temple of Modhera and Rani ki Vav.
The G20 member countries and other international organisations will come together to endorse the nearly finalised versions of both documents. “We have seen substantial progress made by the Ministry of Tourism in finalising these two documents. This is still a work-in-progress; should be firmed up soon,” the secretary added.
Followed by the side events and four working sessions, a Public-Private Dialogue is also scheduled on June 21, titled “Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies” to foster greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. The event, informed Vidyavathi, will be co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Private sector representatives will provide their perspectives on the five priority areas set out for the G20 tourism track, emphasising the importance and relevance of these priorities and potential areas of support from the public sector.
June 21 also coincides with the International Day of Yoga and therefore, a special yoga session has been organised for all G20 Tourism Ministers and delegates. This session will aim at providing a serene and mindful experience amidst the busy proceedings of the meeting, highlighting the significance of incorporating wellness practices in the tourism sector.
“We are excited about both the Tourism Working Group and Ministerial Meeting. The discussions to date during the last three meets in Gujarat, Siliguri and Srinagar have been helpful and we look forward to keeping the momentum going during the meetings in Goa,” said Vidyavathi.
“We want to end on a grand finale in Goa,” she confidently remarked.
