The Goa Roadmap was endorsed at G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting and Ministerial Meeting which was held in Goa from 19th- 22nd June.
Ms V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Tourism said that the Meeting concluded successfully with G20 countries and all other stakeholders making a firm commitment to the goal of Sustainable Tourism. She also gave an overview of the thematic discussions held in the four tourism working group meetings. The thematic discussions included Archaeological tourism, Rural tourism, Adventure tourism, Film tourism, and Cruise Tourism.
Ms.V. Vidyavathi pointed out that during G20, international meetings are being held in more than 55 destinations in India for which appropriate infrastructure was created and amenities provided. This has laid a strong foundation for MICE tourism and this will be promoted by the Ministry of Tourism in the coming days.
Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India addressed the esteemed gathering during Tourism Ministerial Meeting through video message, stating that our efforts in the tourism sector are centered on preserving our rich heritage and at the same time creating world-class infrastructure for tourism.
During the Tourism Ministerial Meeting on 21st June 2023, all the Ministers and Heads of Delegations from G20 Member countries, guest countries, and International Organizations welcomed the GOA Roadmap for Tourism and gave remarks on the successful completion of Tourism Working Group meetings. ‘GOA Roadmap for Tourism’ is aimed at providing national governments in the G20 countries and beyond, as well as other tourism players with voluntary tools and recommendations to leverage the sector’s capability to progress the SDGs. The roadmap also highlights the need to sensitize the consumer side as well as responsible consumption.
On the sidelines of the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting and Tourism Ministers Meeting, four thematic events were held which include, ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’, ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in Tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’, ‘Public Private Dialogue: Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies, in association with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’, and ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’.
The first thematic discussion on ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’ was organized on 19th June 2023, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.
The event saw the participation of G20 Member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event witnessed deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally. A panel discussion featuring esteemed speakers from G20 Member countries and guest countries shed light on country-specific policies and initiatives on varied aspects of cruise tourism, its growth, and the need to make cruise tourism sustainable and responsible.
An MoU was signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Airbnb to jointly promote India as one of the most sought-after Tourism destinations for travel enthusiasts around the world. A dedicated microsite was launched in the presence of Mr.. G. Kishan Reddy.the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER.
The Ministry of Tourism organized a second thematic discussion on ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’ in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The discussion focused on encouraging the engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event encompassed high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). During this discussion, CNA-ST (Central Nodal Agency – Sustainable Tourism), Punjab Tourism Board, and RTSOI (Responsible Tourism Society of India) signed a signatory pact and pledged their commitment to the GTPI furthering the cause of the circular economy of plastics in the tourism industry.
Along the sidelines of the G20 tourism working group meeting on 20th June 2023, a national-level thematic discussion was organized which focused on ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’ and deliberated on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in India following the principles of sustainability. The deliberation upon Multi Facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional, and Yachting), perspectives from the Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, and perspectives from the Riverine States were the focus areas of discussion during the event. The draft National Strategy for Cruise Tourism was launched during the event by Mr.G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER.
In celebration of the ‘International Day of Yoga’ on June 21, which coincided with the G20 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting, a special yoga session was organized by the state government of Goa at Raj Bhawan. This session highlighted the significance of incorporating wellness practices in the tourism sector and emphasized the importance of holistic well-being.
A ‘Public-Private Dialogue: Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies’ was organized on 21st June 2023 in association with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Dialogue provided an opportunity for participants to share their priorities and concerns and identify opportunities for mutual support and greater public-private partnership. This discussion aligned and provided a private sector perspective on the five priority areas of the Tourism Working Group under India’s G20 tourism track.
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4th Tourism Working Group Meeting under G20
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