…accelerating climate action in tourism is very important for the resilience of this sector.
Badung (ANTARA) – The second meeting of the G20 Working Group on Tourism (TWG) in Bali discussed issues related to empowering communities and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as actors in tourism transformation and creative industries.
The meeting will be held on September 23-26, 2022 by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Industries under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency.
Faced with these issues, economic recovery will be centered on the community and likely to impact on the improvement of the community’s economy.
“Together with G20 member countries, we need to develop best practice to empower the creative tourism sector from the community and MSMEs to help them become agents of change by boosting economic recovery and opening wider employment opportunities” , Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries Sandiaga told the UN on Friday in Bali.
The G20 is an international forum comprising 19 nations and the European Union working together to solve important issues. Indonesia is chairing the Forum this year.
Indonesia’s G20 Presidency has two meetings, including the Sherpa track, which discusses non-financial issues. The TWG meeting was organized as part of the Sherpa Track.
The meeting will provide a space for the exchange of ideas and best practices conducted by G20 countries as well as host countries and international institutions, the UN said.
Related News: G20 a platform to promote local tourism, Products: Minister Uno
The activity will be attended virtually and physically by 71 participants from G20 member countries namely India, Italy, Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and Turkey.
In addition, delegations from the host countries Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Fiji, as well as international organizations including the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also attend the meeting.
Upon arrival, the delegations were greeted by the Chair of the G20 Working Group on Tourism, Frans Teguh.
Teguh symbolically handed over mangrove seedlings to UNWTO officials; the former Head of Delegations (HoD) of the G20, namely Italy; and the next HoD of the G20, namely India.
The mangrove seedlings are being planted by Traveloka as part of the company’s support for sustainability issues.
“The mangrove seedlings are intended to raise awareness of environmental protection, especially in tourist destinations, and realize sustainable tourism,” Teguh said.
He added that handing over the mangrove seedlings also means the future of tourism must be more inclusive and sustainable.
According to him, the tourism sector is highly vulnerable to climate change while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming.
“Therefore, accelerating climate action in tourism is very important for the resilience of this sector,” he noted.
Related News: Discussion of historic tourism at G20 TWG meeting: UN
Related News: G20 Forum Welcoming a New Era of Tourism
