The Second G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting began in Siliguri

Siliguri: TheG20 Tourism Working Group meeting got underway today in Darjeeling, West Bengal. It is scheduled to be held over 3 days from the 1st to 4rd April, it is the second meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group under the Sherpa track.Over 130 participants, including delegates from G20 members, guest countries, invited International Organisations, industry partners and local tour operators, took part in the meeting. It was inaugurated by Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy.

Taking forward discussions from the previous G20 Tourism track meeting held at Rann of Kutch, Gujarat in February 2023. India’s G20 Tourism Working Group has identified five priority areas viz. Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs and Destination Management, for our Presidency. All the priorities were welcomed and endorsed by participating G20 delegates in the previous meeting. Under the broad theme of “Travel for LiFE”, the G20 Tourism track is working to further the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals through green, inclusive and resilient tourism-development.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a panel discussion on ‘Adventure Tourism as a vehicle for achieving SDGs’ would also be organised. Besides, several activities involving ‘Janbhagidari’ as also giving experience of local arts, crafts, and culture to the foreign delegates have been planned. The participants would also be taken for a ride of the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.