Amitabh Kant | Tourism is a major driver of growth, a major driver of job creation

In his inaugural address at the 3rd Tourism Working Group Meeting in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha highlighted the focus on five interconnected priority areas under India’s G20 Presidency. These areas aim to provide a roadmap for using tourism as a tool to achieve sustainable development goals. Shri Sinha expressed his belief that Jammu and Kashmir, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will soon become one of the top 50 destinations globally. He mentioned the development of the country’s largest book village near Wular Lake, emphasizing the goal of making popular destinations more sustainable and preserving heritage sites.

Shri Sinha also mentioned the revival of the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and Bollywood, as well as the launch of a film policy in 2021 to attract investment and establish the region as a popular film shooting destination. He emphasized that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir reflects the multicultural ethos of India and has been guided by the needs of travelers, the interests of industry stakeholders, and the promotion of environmental awareness.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Personnel, among other portfolios, spoke about the powerful message conveyed by the logo and theme of India’s G20 Presidency. The theme, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” signifies the interconnectedness of all life forms and emphasizes just and equitable growth for all. Dr. Singh highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s unique infrastructure, such as the world’s highest rail bridge, Chenab Bridge, and India’s longest highway tunnel, Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, which serve as magnets for the tourism sector.

Dr. Singh also mentioned the Basohli art form obtaining the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which brings international recognition to Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the five priorities discussed in the 3rd Tourism Working Group Meeting are crucial for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals by 2030.

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Culture, Tourism, and the Development of the North Eastern Region, expressed the Ministry’s keenness to work with G20 nations to promote sustainable tourism globally. He noted significant progress in the five priority areas of the working group, namely Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, MSMEs, and Destination Management. Shri Reddy emphasized that these priorities serve as building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets set for the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant commended the progress made in the five key priority areas and emphasized the critical role of the tourism sector in driving growth and job creation. He highlighted the importance of skilling and reskilling for the tourism sector, which can significantly contribute to employment generation. The inaugural session was attended by delegates from G20 nations, invited countries, international organizations, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Defence Shri Ajay Bhatt, Chief Coordinator of G20 Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Secretary of Tourism Shri Arvind Singh.