Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard on 5 Sep.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, launched the dashboard in a virtual ceremony.
Developed under the leadership of India’s G20 Presidency and with the expert knowledge partnership of UNWTO, the dashboard is a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable tourism. It showcases best practices, case studies, and insights from G20 countries, all modeled for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This dashboard is a lasting legacy of India’s G20 Presidency, reflecting its dedication to global collaboration and sustainable growth in the global tourism industry.
The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard serves as a comprehensive online public platform, amalgamating the collective knowledge of the G20 Tourism Working Group. It consolidates the GOA Roadmap, survey results, case studies, and best practices from G20 countries. The dashboard offers insights into sustainable tourism practices and also provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and growth.
The virtual launch witnessed participation from G20 Member countries, invited countries, international organizations, Indian States & Union Territories, and industry stakeholders.
The event commenced with opening remarks by the Additional Secretary (Tourism), Government of India highlighting the importance of the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard and mentioned that the dashboard has been developed in line with the vision of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to make India’s Presidency inclusive, ambitious and action-oriented. To create a legacy from India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has set up the G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard in partnership with United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
An address from UNWTO stated that “G20 countries represent over 70% 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 highlight of the event was the launch of the Dashboard by Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, accompanied by a launch video. This video encapsulated the efforts and results of the G20 Tourism Working Group and provided a glimpse into the dashboard’s features.
Address from the Union Minister of Tourism, Shri. G. Kishan Reddy shed light on the significance of this initiative. The Minister highlighted that ‘the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard is a testament to our nation’s digital strides and serves as a beacon of knowledge for all the public and private stakeholders globally. It offers a wealth of knowledge and showcases best practices, all aimed at steering the tourism industry towards greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways of India, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, during his address, stated that the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard is a pivotal step in the journey, that aligns perfectly with our commitment to harnessing the benefits of digitalization for the betterment of the tourism sector and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Shri Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa, Shri Atul Bagai, Country Head, India – United Nations Environment Programme, Secretary, Tourism, State Govt. of Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir, and industry stakeholders also offered their insights into the global perspective on this initiative during the event.
In today’s rapidly evolving tourism landscape, the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard will act as a collaborative knowledge-sharing platform, guiding the global community towards more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism. Its launch marks a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving the SDGs and reflects the collective commitment of the global community under India’s G20 Presidency.
