Darjeeling: March 30, 2023

India’s achieving G-20 Presidency is a great honour for the country, stated Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, G-20 Chief Coordinator while addressing the joint  media briefing with Sh Arvind Singh, Secretary Tourism, GoI at  Darjeeling today. Shri Shringla added that many of the most influential and large economies of the world is going to participate in the 2nd G-20 Tourism Working Group Meeting starting from April 1 in Siliguri. The delegates from the G-20 member countries will get the opportunity to discuss the ways of reviving tourism sector which got affected due to the Covid pandemic, in this three-day meet. He also pointed out that India; especially the North Eastern part of the country will get a big opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials dominated in the region. 10 ambassadors from the G-20 Nations who will be visiting the region will also get the opportunity to discuss with the local stakeholders about the potentials of the region, said Shri Shringla. He commented that the foreign delegates will get the exposure to tea industry, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and adventure tourism. He stated that the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri G Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Shri John Barla will also attend the meeting.  

Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India informed in the press meet about the 2nd G-20 TWG meeting and said that the key aspects as well as suggestions from different stakeholders will be taken into account to carry forward in the coming days so far as the improvement of the tourism sector is concerned. He added that the delegates attending the meeting will be introduced to local tourism products of the region. 

Among the participating countries, apart from Canada, the UK, the USA, there will be Germany, Spain, Turkey, France, Brazil, Australia, Russia, the UAE and the like. The core issues to be discussed included “How to accelerate the tourism potentials and Ease the process of International Travel”. 

Smt. Radha Katyal Narang, Tourism Director, G-20 and Smt. Banhisikha Dey, ADM, Darjeeling were also present on the occasion. 

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