Since COVID-19 happened, the tourism sector has been the most affected and is still struggling. To provide a boost to the industry, G20 leaders have endorsed the Goa Roadmap and the ‘Travel for LiFE’ program.
Delhi Declaration provides a new direction for the tourism sector with the 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’s 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.
In furtherance of our commitment, 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.
As we move forward, 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.
The Ministry of Tourism is also launching a national competition on ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ to identify best practices and case studies aligned with five priorities of the G20 Goa roadmap, which have successfully been implemented by States, Destinations, and Industry Stakeholders, and 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 to the tourism sector. Travel for LiFE nudges all tourists and tourist businesses to take simple actions, that have tremendous significance for environment protection and climate action.
Ministry of Tourism has aligned its programs and initiatives for promoting sustainable tourism under the ‘Travel for LiFE’ program and the campaign will cover the entire tourism ecosystem, motivating and inspiring all actors to contribute to making the tourism sector sustainable and responsible. While recognizing the LiFE actions by tourists, the Ministry will also recognize the tourism businesses as TFL-certified based on the STCI criteria of the Ministry. It will also encourage the tourists and tourism businesses to take a “Travel for LiFE’ pledge, which will reflect their commitment to sustainable practices.
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