Working Group on Tourism in Rann of Kutch

• Gujarat will host the inaugural Tourism Working Group (TWG) conference from February 7–9, 2023, as part of India's G20 Presidency.
• The focus of tourism will be on rural and archaeological travel. The second location for foreign delegates will be Dholavira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How Does the G20 Value Interventions in the Travel and Tourism Sector?

There are 5 interrelated priority areas for tourism during India's G20 Presidency. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on these five key areas:

• The sector of Tourism's Greening
• Utilising the benefits of digitization
• Giving young people skills
• Fostering tourism MSMEs and startups
• Reconsidering how destinations are managed strategically.
• Additionally, reaching an agreement on how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) would be fulfilled by 2030 is one of the G20 platform's top priorities.
• This will include a focus on environmentally friendly tourism, which is crucial for fostering local business growth as well as protecting the environment.
• The various locations selected for the G20 events will have a variety of tastes, such as ecotourism (Khonoma Village, Nagaland), rural tourism (Ladpura Khas village, MP), and Archaeological Tourism (Dholavira).
• In addition, three significant tourism-related events are being planned to make the most of the G20 Presidency. These events include the MICE Convention, the Meeting of the World Tourism CEOs Forum, and the Global Investors Summit in April 2023.

The tourism sector in India:

• India is a diverse country within its own unity in terms of its tribes, cultures, religions, and ways of life, as well as its potential for tourism.

• 9% of the nation’s GDP or so is derived from the tourism industry. It contributes to employment, revenue, and foreign exchange reserves.
• The tourism and hospitality sectors are India's third-largest source of foreign exchange.
• As the country strives for quick economic growth and the creation of employment opportunities, the tourism sector in India is becoming increasingly important as a big economic multiplier.

Importance of tourism:

• Greater protection and preservation are made possible by its recognition of India's historical and cultural landmarks.
• Due to the significant sum of money that visiting tourists spend, tourism has the potential to be a tool for local development.
• It steers regions devoid of industries with growth being more inclusive, and equitable growth, and promotes social equality.
• It increases global awareness of the area and brings attention to its underlying socio-economic problems.
• The service sector is pushed by it. The number of businesses that will profit from the service sector is growing along with the tourism industry.

Challenges:

• Growth rates are slowed because many locations do not earn any money the remainder of the year due to the tourism industry's seasonal dependence.
• Tourism is harmed by the widespread non-acceptance of international payment cards.
• Due to the hefty taxes on travel and tourism, India is a pricey destination for many travellers.
• There aren't enough English-speaking experts, travel companies, or guides.
• Basic amenities like urinals and restrooms that are appropriate for tourists are sometimes absent from locations.
• Traveler delays are exacerbated by paperwork, inner-line permissions, and visa procedures.
• Tourists are concentrated in fewer states, yet there are many attractions in northern India's interior that need more advertising.

Government scheme:

• The Ministry of Tourism works with State Governments to help them build the infrastructure for 13 approved theme-based circuits as part of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

• The goals of the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD program are to encourage growth in niche tourism markets such as wildlife, adventure, wellness, and religious travel.
• To protect and uphold the sacredness of national historic monuments, the Swachh Bharat Movement has launched a sizable cleaning campaign.
• A tourist vehicle operator may apply online for an All India Tourist Authorization/Permit in accordance with the All India Permit Rules 2021.
• Defending the Nation: A webinar series dubbed "12 Months of Adventure Travel" is scheduled to launch on November 28, 2020, with the goal of promoting India as an adventure tourism destination.

Way forward

• The promotion of tourism and preservation of the ecological, social, and cultural ecosystems of the destinations must coexist in harmony. The government should encourage eco-friendly and sustainable tourism in order to address issues with the water crisis, pollution, waste management, and other related issues.