The G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi serves as a testament to India’s leadership in promoting global unity and cooperation. The summit brought together the world’s most influential leaders who shared a common vision for the future. Their collective dedication to addressing global challenges reaffirms the spirit of international collaboration.
A significant achievement during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi was the unanimous support for recognizing the pivotal role of tourism and culture in sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity. The ‘G20 Leaders Declaration’ adopted during the summit emphasized the importance of the ‘Goa Roadmap for Tourism’ as a means to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Delhi Declaration charts a new course for the tourism sector, with the G20 Goa Roadmap outlining the challenges, objectives, opportunities, and recommendations for achieving SDGs. This roadmap, a key outcome of India’s G20 Tourism Track, is a groundbreaking initiative that provides a blueprint for sustainable global tourism. It aligns with India’s G20 Presidency theme, highlighting the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship.
By focusing on the five interconnected priorities endorsed by the G20 Tourism Working Group – Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management – the roadmap offers a comprehensive strategy for nations to align their tourism policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
In pursuit of this commitment, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has introduced the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard. This innovative initiative will serve as a global repository, showcasing best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism from G20 nations. It aims to be a comprehensive resource, assisting nations and industry stakeholders in their journey toward achieving the SDGs through tourism.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Tourism aims to facilitate the implementation of the GOA Roadmap through educational and awareness campaigns. These efforts will sensitize state and union territory governments, as well as private stakeholders, to incorporate recommended actions into their operations, fostering more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism.
Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism is launching a national competition on ‘Tourism for Tomorrow.’ This competition seeks to identify best practices and case studies aligned with the five priorities of the G20 Goa roadmap. These successful practices can be replicated and expanded across the country. The competition will be inaugurated on World Tourism Day on September 27.
In another noteworthy development, the G20 leaders’ declaration has acknowledged the launch of the “Travel for LiFE” initiative, recognizing its potential to promote responsible and sustainable tourism. The Travel for LiFE program draws inspiration from the Honorable Prime Minister’s vision of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which is highly relevant to the tourism sector. Travel for LiFE encourages tourists and tourist businesses to take simple actions with significant implications for environmental protection and climate action.
The Ministry of Tourism has aligned its programs and initiatives under the ‘Travel for LiFE’ program, which encompasses the entire tourism ecosystem. This initiative aims to motivate and inspire all stakeholders to contribute to making the tourism sector sustainable and responsible. The Ministry will also acknowledge the efforts of tourists and tourism businesses by certifying them as “Travel for LiFE” compliant based on the Ministry’s criteria. It will encourage both tourists and businesses to take a “Travel for LiFE” pledge, signifying their commitment to sustainable practices.
The Ministry of Tourism is committed to a future that is environmentally friendly, clean, and harmonious. Its mission is to ensure that growth is not only robust but also fair, equitable, and sustainable for every individual.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destinations for national and international gatherings.
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