The G20 countries, at a ministerial-level meeting scheduled in Goa this June, will adopt a roadmap for the development of tourism, the first draft of which was made at the global forum's meeting of the tourism working group in Siliguri and Darjeeling hills from April 1 to 4.
“During the meet, representatives of member countries, invitee countries and international organisations shared their comments on the draft. The idea is to develop tourism acting on five priority areas,” said an official of the Union tourism ministry.
The priority areas are green tourism, harnessing the power of digitalization, empowering the workforce with skills, nurturing MSMEs associated with tourism and drawing up strategies for the management of destinations, the source said.
According to him, the Goa Roadmap and Action Plan for tourism will be readied to accelerate the growth of the tourism sector and use it as a tool for sustainable development goals.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is working to promote responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism by 2030. All along, it has been promoting tourism as a driving force toward economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability.
At the tourism working group meeting here, presentations were made by the representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNWTO.
“There were discussions on each priority area. However, all the participating countries unanimously agreed that green tourism (environment-friendly tourism practices) is the most important priority for them,” the official added.
Fifty-six delegates from 17 member countries, eight invitee countries and four international organisations attended the meeting here. Ambassadors of seven G20 nations — Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Indonesia and Korea were also present.
“Talks during the first two TWG meetings (the first at Rann of Kutch in February) have progressed in the right direction in order to draft the final communiqué in Goa,” said a source.
