The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), introduced the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard on Tuesday. This dashboard is a collaborative knowledge-sharing platform that will guide the global community towards more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism. It marks a significant milestone in achieving the SDGs, reflecting the collective commitment of the global community under India’s G20 Presidency.
The dashboard was developed under India’s G20 Presidency, with the expert knowledge partnership of UNWTO, and is a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable tourism. It provides best practices, case studies, and insights from G20 countries, modelled for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard is a comprehensive online public platform, consolidating the collective knowledge of the G20 Tourism Working Group. It includes the GOA Roadmap, survey results, case studies, and best practices from G20 countries. The dashboard offers insights into sustainable tourism practices and provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and growth.
The virtual launch was attended by G20 Member countries, invited countries, international organisations, Indian States & Union Territories, and industry stakeholders. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, G Kishan Reddy, launched the dashboard in a virtual ceremony, along with a launch video.
The dashboard is a beacon of knowledge for public and private stakeholders globally, offering a wealth of knowledge and showcasing best practices aimed at steering the tourism industry towards greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
Logically the benefits of G20 could flow only in the long term. The great challenge in the post G20 period will be to sustain these initiatives. Naturally the states will have to play the key role, providing a suitable policy framework, putting together an atmosphere where doing business is easy and creating a suitable climate for constructive partnership with the private sector.
Zurab Pololikashvil, Secretary-General, UNWTO, said in a video message during the launch, “G20 countries represent over 70 per cent of tourism worldwide. Their leadership in the transformation of the sector is decisive. The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is a concrete outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group and a reference tool for all. UNWTO is very happy to have joined hands with the Ministry of Tourism of India to make this possible”. The G20 economies represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. In 2022, the G20 welcomed 74 per cent of international tourists and 73 per cent of tourism exports worldwide. In 2019, pre-Covid-19 pandemic, the Tourism Direct GDP reached 3.7 per cent of the G20 economies.
On this occasion, Nakul Anand, Chairman, FAITH, congratulated the Tourism Ministry and said, “As someone deeply invested in the travel industry, I am constantly seeking platforms that offer genuine insights and actionable knowledge. The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard does exactly that. It’s a commendable initiative that will undoubtedly shape the future of travel, steering us towards more responsible and sustainable practices. Kudos to the team behind this!” He added, “The effort and enduring spirit of excellence have infused a sense of pride in the Indian tourism industry and enhanced confidence in FAITH and its association members that its USD 3 trillion tourism vision for India for 2047 is completely achievable.”
During the event, the Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shripad Yesso, Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa, Atul Bagai, Country Head, India – United Nations Environment Programme, Hareet Shukla, Secretary, Tourism, Gujarat, Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Secretary, Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir, and industry stakeholders also offered their insights into the global perspective on this initiative.
