19-Sep-2022: Shri G. Kishan Reddy addresses the Tourism Ministers’ meeting of the BRICS member countries virtually today
The Tourism Ministers meeting of the BRICS member countries was held virtually today on 19th September and was attended by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER. China took Presidency of the BRICS Council in 2022 from India. Today Ministers’ meeting was after two levels of Senior officers meet held virtual on August and September.
The Tourism Ministers’ of the other countries viz Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa participated in Meeting and adopted the Comminique on the theme Green Growth, Sustainable Development and Resilient Recovery. During India’s chairship of BRICS in 2021 key emphasis was put on sustainability, shift to renewable resources, job creation, encouraging green and sustainable tourism practices for accelerating tourism recovery. Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Tourism Minister stated that India had launched the BRICS alliance for Green Tourism during BRICS chairship of India last year. It promotes measures which can shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector. It can accelerate the recovery and development of tourism on sustainable lines. India also attaches great importance to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to promoting sustainable development in the tourism sector to address the challenges in environmental protection and climate change.
The Ministry’s approach is to focus on post COVID growth and development of tourism sector and priority areas like Cultural Tourism, Adventure tourism, MICE, Medical, Wellness Tourism and Rural Tourism for which the following major initiatives have been identified :-
- Green Growth and sustainable development
- Digital Tourism
- Destination Management
- Tourism and Hospitality Skill Development & MSME Development
This will also be reflected in India’s SCO Presidency and G20 Presidency in 2022-23.
13-Jul-2021: Minister for Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy chairs the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting today
Minister for Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy chaired the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting on 13 July, 2021, as part of India’s BRICS chairmanship. The Ministers of all the member countries viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in the meeting.
India organized the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting as an effective means to promote tourism cooperation among BRICS countries. The meeting reviewed the intra BRICS Tourism cooperation. The significant aspect of the meeting was the adoption of the Ministers’ Communique, an outcome document on cooperation and promotion of tourism between the BRICS countries. The Ministers’ Communique recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely endangered public health and has presented immense challenges to the implementation of sustainable development goals.
Tourism Minister Shri G Kishan Reddy stressed on the importance of the BRICS member States to have a good understanding of each other’s tourism products and offerings so as to encourage further growth of tourist inflow between the BRICS member countries. Shri Reddy also mentioned that the common tourism products in BRICS countries such as heritage & culture tourism, nature, wildlife, Eco tourism etc., present an opportunity for greater cooperation and exchange of information and best practices.
Further, to promote tourism for the future, it was recognized that BRICS alliance for Green Tourism can accelerate the recovery and development of tourism on sustainable lines. Some of the key elements of the BRICS alliance for green tourism are mainstreaming sustainability into the tourism sector policies, conservation efforts, sustainable development goals, shift towards renewable source of energy, conservation efforts for green tourism which will encourage investment in nature based solutions and supporting the fragile eco systems.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism in the areas of promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, investment in tourism infrastructure, close interaction between tourism enterprises and human resource development. The Ministers resolved to work together to realise the full potential of BRICS countries through cooperation in the tourism sector.