The Goa Roadmap was endorsed at G20 Tourism  Working Group Meeting and Ministerial Meeting which was held in Goa from  19th- 22nd June. Briefing mediapersons about the outcomes of the Working Group and Ministerial meeting of tourism  in New Delhi today, Secretary , Tourism Smt  V. Vidyavathi, said that the Meeting concluded successfully with G20 countries and all other stakeholders making a firm commitment to the goal of Sustainable Tourism. She further  outlined the five priorities of the Goa Roadmap which will be implemented to achieve Sustainable Tourism ie  Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management.

The Secretary further remarked that these five priorities provide a roadmap for sustainable tourism not only for India but also the whole world. She also disclosed that in India, a whole of government approach will be  adopted and the five priorities will be shared with the  Central Ministries as well as state governments  so that they can dovetail them into their on-ground action plans and ensure realisation of these priorities.

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.

Smt  V. Vidyavathi also 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 Ministry of Tourism in coming days.

On the occasion, Additional Secretary, Shri Rakesh Verma gave a presentation highlighting the important events that were organized during the meeting. He also gave details about thematic discussions on Cruise tourism as well as significance of 5 priorities endorsed under the Goa .

During the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting, all the G20 Member Countries, Guest Countries, and International Organizations recognized the efforts in finalizing the GOA Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals, the key deliverable of the tourism working group under India’s G20 Presidency.

‘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 on responsible consumption. The approach of the GOA Roadmap focusses on promoting visitors’-led actions for Travel for LiFE in line with the Lifestyle for Environment movement launched by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the esteemed gathering during Tourism Ministerial Meeting through video message. In the video message, he highlighted that during India’s G20 Presidency, over 200 meetings are being organized at more than 100 locations throughout the country. The Prime Minister stated that our efforts in 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.

On the sidelines of the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting and Tourism Ministers Meeting, four thematic events were held which includes ,  ‘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’ .

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.

A 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 the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER Shri. G. Kishan Reddy.

The Ministry of Tourism organized 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). These interventions were followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders.

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 event saw the participation of key States and Union Territories, Industry Stakeholders, and national and international experts. The draft National Strategy for Cruise Tourism was launched during the event by Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER Shri G. Kishan Reddy.

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 offered an enchanting experience of yoga to all G20 Tourism Ministers and delegates, providing them with a moment of serenity and mindfulness amidst the busy proceedings of the meeting. It 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. The Dialogue started by opening the conversation on the respective importance and relevance of these priorities to the private sector and potential areas of support and collaboration from the public sector.

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Ajay KR