Second G20 Tourism Working Group meet kicks off in West Bengal today

He said India, especially the Northeast part of the country, will get a big opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potential of the region.

Foreign delegates will get exposure to the tea industry, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and adventure tourism, Shingla said. The meeting will be attended by Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, G Kishan Reddy, and MoS, Minority Affairs, John Barla.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, said suggestions from stakeholders will be taken into account on improvement of the tourism sector. He said delegates attending the meeting will be introduced to local tourism products of the region.

Darjeeling tea-tasting and moonlight tea leaf plucking experience have also been planned for the delegates at Makaibari Tea Estate, Kurseong, besides an experience of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The delegates will also witness artistes performing tribal dance and Baul songs.

The ministry is also hosting a side event on ‘Adventure Tourism as a vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals’. An exhibition will be held for the public from April 3-5 to increase awareness of India’s G20 Presidency and promotion of sustainable practices under adventure tourism in Darjeeling.

During the first meeting of the Tourism Working Group in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch in February, five priority areas (green tourism, digitalization, skills, tourism MSMEs, destination management) were endorsed by all the G20 members, invitee countries, and international organisations, a ministry statement said.

The second meeting will cover broader aspects, giving shape to the TWG Outcome Document: GOA Roadmap and Action Plan for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Under India’s G20 Presidency, the government is hosting over 200 meetings in more than 59 cities across the country.