G20 Tourism Working Group and Tourism Ministerial Meetings start in Goa

Goa is one the best-known global tourist destinations and is the perfect grand finale for the Tourism Working Group meeting of G20 said Secretary, Tourism, Smt. V. Vidyavathi at a media  briefing in Goa today. She said that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, beautiful landscape, and rich culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of tourism working group.

She also added, “Under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 SDGs. During the concluding meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations would welcome and endorse the nearly finalized versions of both the document.”  

The concluding and last G20 Tourism Working Group meeting along with the Tourism Ministerial Meeting, began today in Goa. Union Minister For Culture, Tourism And Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri G Kishan Reddy addressed  first session of "Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel', in which he highlighted the immense growth potential of the Indian cruise industry. He said that with 7500 kms of coastline and a vast river system, India is one of the potential cruise tourism destinations with many of its best tourist destinations yet to be disclosed to the world.

On the sidelines of the main Tourism Working Group meeting, involving delegates from G20 member countries, central government Ministries, various State Governments and International Organizations have organized various events. These include crucial initiatives of Cruise Tourism, Global Tourism Plastic Initiative and Public Private Sector. The two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are Goa Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration. The Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress on finalizing these two key deliverables. The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Goa aim to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development of the region.

The two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration. Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress on finalizing the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group. The focus of the discussions at the working groups has remained Sustainable Tourism, Smt V Vidyavathi reiterated.

Speaking on the side events she said that interesting side events on cruise tourism are planned on the theme 'Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel' is being organized on 19th June 2023, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.