G20 leaders endorse Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE’ program to boost tourism sector
Travel Biz News —
New Delhi: G20 Leaders’ Summit unanimously endorsed tourism and culture’s pivotal role in sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity.
The ‘G20 Leaders Declaration’ adopted during the summit underlined the significance of the ‘Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving SDGs.
Delhi Declaration provides a new direction for tourism sector with G20 Goa Roadmap outlining the challenges, objectives, opportunities and recommendations for tourism sector to achieve sustainable development goals.
‘GOA Roadmap’, the key deliverable of India’s G20 Tourism Track, is a pioneering initiative that provides a blueprint for sustainable global tourism. Goa roadmap, aligned with the theme of India’s G20 Presidency, underscores the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship.
By focusing on the five interconnected priorities identified and endorsed by the G20 Tourism Working Group – Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management – the roadmap offers a comprehensive strategy for nations to align their tourism policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 , according to a release issued by Ministry of Tourism of India.
“The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has launched the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard. This pioneering initiative will serve as a global repository, showcasing the best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism practices and policies from G20 nations. It aims to be a comprehensive resource, aiding nations and industry stakeholders in their journey towards achieving the SDGs through tourism.”
The Ministry of Tourism aims to facilitate the implementation of the GOA Roadmap through education and awareness campaigns to sensitize the State/UT Governments and private stakeholders about incorporating key recommended actions in their operations for the creation of more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism.
MOT is also launching a national competition on ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ to identify best practices and case studies aligned with five priorities of G20 Goa roadmap, which have successfully been implemented by States, Destinations and Industry Stakeholders, which can be replicated and scaled up across the country. The competition will be launched on World Tourism Day on September 27.
In another significant development, the G20 leaders’ declaration has further noted the launch of the “Travel for LiFE” initiative, emphasizing its transformative potential in promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.
Travel for LiFE program has been inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which is extremely relevant for the tourism sector.
Travel for LiFE nudges all tourists and tourist businesses to take simple actions, that have tremendous significance for environmental protection and climate action.
The Ministry of Tourism also envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE destinations for national and international meetings.
11 September 2023
