India’s commitment to sustainable tourism took center stage at the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Belem, Brazil, as Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, delivered a compelling address emphasizing the crucial role of tourism in driving economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Minister Shekhawat reiterated India’s dedication to advancing green tourism initiatives and leveraging the power of collaboration to ensure tourism continues to be a key driver of growth and prosperity. His address built upon the foundations laid during India’s G20 Presidency, which saw the development of the ‘Goa Roadmap for Tourism’ and the inclusion of tourism-related goals in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
“Tourism is not just about travel; it’s a powerful tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” Shekhawat stated. He highlighted five key areas that India had outlined for sustainable tourism: Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills Development, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities, Shekhawat said, have been carried forward under Brazil’s presidency and remain crucial for addressing future challenges in the sector.
A significant development from the meeting was the robust support received for India’s initiative to establish a Dashboard for Global Best Practices. This tool, developed during India’s G20 stewardship, aims to aggregate best practices in sustainable tourism from around the world. The initiative aligns with the UNWTO’s efforts to create a Statistical Framework for measuring tourism sustainability.
Shekhawat also introduced the Travel for LiFE program, an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global Mission LiFE movement. This initiative places a strong emphasis on Green Tourism, promoting environmental sustainability through responsible travel practices.
On the sidelines of the main event, Minister Shekhawat engaged in a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from various countries, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Singapore, Spain, Japan, and the Czech Republic. These discussions focused on facilitating tourist flows and addressing other significant issues in the tourism sector.