The underlining theme emerging in the G20 tourism working group is the recovery of tourism to pre-Covid figures.

The G20 tourism working group met at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat this February. The second meeting is scheduled to be in Darjeeling district from April 1 to 3.

“Recovery issues are the dominating theme (in the meetings). All the countries have been hit very badly by the pandemic. Experiences have been different everywhere. How to accelerate the process of recovery, how to ease international travel between countries so that the process of recovery is faster is the underlining theme,” said Arvind Singh, the secretary of Union tourism ministry.

Singh added that India has reached 75 per cent of the pre-Covid figures where arrival of international travellers was concerned.

According to the Centre, around 6.19 million international tourists came to India in 2022.

“We are confident of reaching the pre-Covid figures during this calendar year,” said Singh who added that the domestic tourism sector had already recovered.

The G20 tourism working committee has identified five priorities — green tourism, digitalisation, skills, tourism MSMEs and destination management — to be discussed in detail in Darjeeling.

“It is very significant that the meeting is being held in Darjeeling district as top tourism representatives of some of the most important partners will be witnessing the region, its heritage and culture and diversity first hand,” said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s G20 chief coordinator and former foreign secretary, on Thursday.

Around 130 delegates including 10 ambassadors and G. Kishan Reddy, India’s tourism minister, will attend it.

Apart from the meeting of G20 delegates, a side event on “adventure tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals” for the Northeast will also be held.

“Gabriella Stowell, vice-president from Adventure Tour Operators Association, has been invited to represent countries outside India on adventure tourism while Ajeet Bajaja, president, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India, will represent our country at the side event,” said a source.

The delegates will visit tea gardens, participate in “moonlight plucking” at Makaibari tea garden and board a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) toy train from Ghoom to Batasia on April 3.

“The delegates will also be taken to Raj Bhavan and art, craft and cultural events at Chowrasta,” said a source.

The G20 tourism working group will hold two more two more meetings in north India and south India after the Darjeeling event. Finally, a ministerial-level communique will be held at Goa.