The 2nd Tourism Working Group Meeting will be held at Siliguri/Darjeeling (West Bengal) from 1st-3rd April 2023.
Briefing the media Secretary Tourism, Shri Arvind Singh said that the five priorities of Tourism Working Group, Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, Destination Management were introduced in the 1st Tourism Working Group Meeting and were endorsed by all the G20 Members, Invitee Countries, and International Organizations. He said that during the second TWG meeting, all the G20 Members, Invitee Countries and International Organizations will be discussing deeper and broader aspects of the five priorities of the Tourism Working Group.
Shri Arvind Singh said that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is hosting a Side Event on ‘Adventure Tourism as a vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals’. Seven North-eastern states will give presentations on adventure Tourism in the side event.
Mrs. Gabriella Stowell (Vice President) from Adventure Tour Operators Association (ATTA), G20 Delegates and Padma Shri Awardee Mr. Ajeet Bajaj, President of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), have been invited to participate as panelists. A full day event has been organized for domestic industry partners and States of Government of India to deliberate on Tourism in Mission Mode: Advantage Adventure Tourism.
Briefing the media Shri Arvind Singh further said that a technical tour to Darjeeling has been planned during the 2nd TWG Meeting. Darjeeling, the queen of hills, overlooks the mighty Kanchenjunga.
In the 2nd Tourism Working Group Meeting one of the main attractions will be the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) also known as ‘Toy Train Ride’. The ride will be from Ghum, India’s highest railway station (altitude of 2,258 meters) to Batasia Loop.
During the meeting all the Delegates will have tea tasting and moonlight tea leaf plucking experience.Delegates will also be taken for a visit to Raj Bhawan, the summer residence for the Governor of West Bengal. A cultural program and immersive experience of Art & Craft is being organized at Chowrasta (The Mall Road), Darjeeling and there will also be display of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) products.
An exhibition will be opened for the general public from 3rd to 5th April 2023 to increase awareness of India’s G20 Presidency and promotion of sustainable practices under Adventure Tourism at the Mall Road, Darjeeling.
ODOP souvenirs from the Burdwan District(Wooden Owl ); Malda District (Set of 3 handkerchiefs) ; Bankura District (Dokra Hook ); Kalimpong District (Attar in Wooden Box ) of West Bengal would be highlighted during the event.