The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard has been developed under India's G20 Presidency with UNWTO as the knowledge partner.

G20 countries represent over 70 per cent of tourism worldwide and their leadership in the transformation of the sector is decisive, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Therefore, ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit (September 9-10 this year), UNWTO has worked with the Presidency through India’s Union Ministry of Tourism on the G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard, the world body said in a release.

Halfway between the 2015 launch of the 2030 Agenda and the deadline to accomplish it, this tool will help to promote the sector’s contribution to accelerating progress towards achieving the 17 SDGs, according to the UNWTO release.

According to a release from the Union Ministry of Tourism, the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard serves as a comprehensive online public platform, amalgamating the collective knowledge of the G20 Tourism Working Group.

It consolidates the Goa Roadmap, survey results, case studies, and best practices from G20 countries.

The dashboard offers insights into sustainable tourism practices and also provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and growth, the release from the ministry said.

Photo by Raja Sen/Unsplash

The Goa Roadmap for Tourism and the SDGs

UNWTO, as the knowledge partner of India’s G20 Presidency, developed the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs.

The Dashboard showcases the pillars of the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs around the five priority areas set for the Tourism Working Group, which are - Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs and Destination Management, the UNWTO release said.

The UNWTO-G20 Dashboard includes over 20 case studies under these five areas and will be updated on a regular basis during 2023 and in the coming years providing a unique reference for tourism policies and initiatives in their contribution to the SDGs, according to the UNWTO release.

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is a concrete outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group and a reference tool for all. UNWTO is very happy to have joined hands with the Ministry of Tourism of India to make this possible.”

G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, said, “The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is a testament to our nation’s digital strides and serves as a beacon of knowledge for all the public and private stakeholders globally. It offers a wealth of knowledge and showcases best practices, all aimed at steering the tourism industry towards greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.”

Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways of India, Shripad Yesso Naik, too reiterated that the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard is a pivotal step in the journey that aligns perfectly with India’s commitment to harness the benefits of digitalization for the betterment of the tourism sector and achieving the SDGs 2030.

Tourism and the G20 economies

The G20 economies represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

According to the UNWTO release, in 2022, the G20 welcomed 74 per cent of international tourists and 73 per cent of tourism exports worldwide. In 2019, pre COVID-19 pandemic, the Tourism Direct GDP reached 3.7 per cent of the G20 economies.