The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and India’s G20 Presidency have launched the G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard. The new tool is aimed at advancing the contribution of tourism policies and initiatives towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The dashboard has been developed in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Tourism ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled for 9-10 September. It aims to accelerate progress towards achieving the 17 SDGs by promoting the sector’s contributions in that direction.
Goa Roadmap for Tourism and SDGs
The dashboard features the pillars of the Goa Roadmap for Tourism, focusing on five priority areas: Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management.
It will include over 20 case studies in these areas and will be updated regularly during 2023 and the coming years, providing a unique reference for tourism policies and initiatives contributing to the SDGs.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “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.”
India’s Role in Global Tourism and Digitalization
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, India’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Development of North Eastern Region, emphasized the role of digitalization in the sector. “The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is a testament to our nation’s digital strides and serves as a beacon of knowledge for all stakeholders globally.”
Tourism’s Economic Impact in G20 Economies
The G20 economies are significant players in the global tourism sector, accounting for 74% of international tourists and 73% of tourism exports worldwide in 2022. The Tourism Direct GDP contributed 3.7% to the G20 economies in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard will also be incorporated into the UNWTO-led Tourism for SDGs Platform.
