PNS|Hyderabad
Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy said that the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (UNHLPF) provides a platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level.
Addressing UNWTO, Kishan said that in the last decade, India has made a conscious effort to integrate economic, social and environmental sustainability as the core agenda in her policies and priorities.
He said that today, as a nation, India not only has moral authority but also experience based on its achievements and accomplishments in this area.
He said that as a result, Indians are able to lead from the front and set the agenda in Tourism Working Group meetings and ministerial meetings during the G-20 presidency. This is clearly visible from the GOA Declaration that was endorsed by all the G-20 members, he said.
Kishan said that they are encouraging green tourism, that is, greening the tourism sector for sustainable, responsible and resilient outcomes.
He said that digitalization is harnessing the power of digitalization to create a framework for measuring inclusion and sustainability in the tourism sector.
He said ‘Skills’ are meant to empower youth with skills for jobs and entrepreneurship.
He said that tourism MSMEs are nurturing start-ups in the private sector to unleash innovation and dynamism.
He said that destination management is rethinking the strategic management of destinations towards a holistic approach that delivers on SDGs.
The GOA Roadmap directly and positively impacts the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth; SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities; SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production; and SDG 17: Partnerships for goals.
He said that Prime Minister Modi has always stated that our efforts in the tourism sector should not only be centred on preserving our rich heritage but also on creating world-class infrastructure for tourism.
He said that to implement the Prime Minister’s vision we have conceived an action plan to develop and promote common themes that link and resonate with partner countries and include Buddhist circuits, Ramayana circuits, Himalayan circuits and Heritage circuits.
“I invite all nations to participate in this as it would yield excellent dividends. This is a prominent objective under the newly drafted National Tourism Policy that will soon be implemented and will immensely benefit international tourism,” he said.
He said as one of the few continuous living civilisations still existing, India has a lot to offer in line with its philosophy that prioritises sustainability and coexistence with nature.
He said ancient Indian scriptures have advocated the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that is, the world is one family. Therefore, it is ingrained in our DNA to be a responsible global citizen that thinks and acts for all humanity.
“We are advocating Travel for LiFE in line with the Lifestyle for Environment movement launched by Prime Minister Modi,” he said. This will sensitise tourists and make them part of our efforts to take simple actions that can have a significant impact on climate action and environment protection, Kishan added.
“We are also establishing Youth Tourism Clubs in schools and universities across the country to ensure that the next generation of Indians can take pride in the rich cultural and geographical diversity of India and the world. At the same time, these clubs will build awareness about sustainable tourism practices in our youth. The widespread practice of Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy complemented with our millennia-old spiritual philosophy brings to light our harmonious coexistence with the tenets of sustainable lifestyles,” he said.
He said under India’s G-20 presidency, meetings and events had a pan-India flavour with 55 cities across the country hosting G-20 delegates. This gave many policymakers a view of the beauty and wonder that is India.
“I do hope to see you all in India to experience first-hand the transformational work that is taking place in aligning our national priorities with sustainability. As Incredible India goes global, I thank you all once again for this opportunity to be here at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York. I look forward to your cooperation in building a healthy, safe and sustainable planet for future generations,” he said.
