New Delhi: The two day long ‘Third G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting has gone underway in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir from Monday.

The meeting will focus on two key deliverables: the GOA Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration.

These documents will undergo discussions and deliberations to incorporate valuable inputs and feedback from G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations. After negotiations with G20 member countries, the final versions of these documents will be presented at the Fourth Tourism Working Group Meeting.

The five priority areas to be discussed during the meeting are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and Destination Management. These priorities are considered crucial for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for the 2030 SDGs.

In addition to the working group meeting, a side event on ‘Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation’ will be organized on May 22nd and 23rd, 2023. The event aims to discuss strategies to promote film tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, with the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. A draft ‘National Strategy on Film Tourism’ will also be unveiled during the event to provide a roadmap for leveraging films to promote tourist destinations.

Sh. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Chief Coordinator of G20, commended the efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Government in creating awareness about the goals and purpose of G20 through various public activities. The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Arun Mehta, highlighted the positive changes taking place in the region, with a record number of 18.8 million tourists visiting in 2022. He mentioned that 300 new tourist destinations will be developed in Jammu and Kashmir to cater to the increasing influx of tourists.

During the 3rd Tourism Working Group meeting, delegates will have the opportunity to visit an Art and Craft Bazaar organized by the State Government, where local handicrafts and the work of artisans will be showcased. The importance of community participation will be emphasized through hands-on experiences and do-it-yourself (DIY) activities at the Craft Bazaar.

The Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting local products of Jammu and Kashmir by presenting souvenirs to the delegates. These souvenirs include items like Paper Mache Boxes, Saffron from Pampore, Kawa Cups and Brass Spoons, and Walnuts from Anantnag, Shopian, and Kupwara.

The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar aims to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development in the region. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, welcomes the participation of delegates from G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations to collectively work towards advancing the tourism sector and achieving the UN sustainable development goals by 2030.

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