⇒ Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with United Environment Program (UNEP) and Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) organized One Day National Summit on Developing Sustainable & Responsible Tourist Destinations on 04 June 2022 in New Delhi.
- On the occasion, the Ministry of Tourism launched the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller Campaign.
The Strategy document has identified the strategic pillars for development of sustainable tourism like:
Promoting Environmental Sustainability, Protecting Biodiversity, Promoting Economic Sustainability, Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability, Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism, IEC and Capacity Building and Governance
Speakers:
Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr Shombi Sharp, Head of UN in India and Shri Rakesh Mathur, President, RTSOI, various eminent Speakers working in the field of Sustainable Tourism & Responsible Travel and from State Governments addressed the different sessions.
- The Summit was attended by senior officers of different Central Ministries, State Governments/UT Administrations and various Tourism & Hospitality Industry Associations.
Speaking on the occasion Secretary Tourism Shri Arvind Singh said that Tourism and Environment share a Special Relationship.
- Ministry of Tourism with the objective to provide experience to the tourists launched Swadesh Darshan Scheme and has till now sanctioned 76 Projects.
- With the learnings of this scheme, Ministry of Tourism have now revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
- The idea of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is to undertake holistic development with the vision to develop Sustainable and Responsible Tourist Destinations.
- While formulating the guidelines for SD 2.0 Ministry of Tourism have kept various elements in mind in order to undertake destination development in a sustainable and responsible manner.
- Through the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 sustainable and responsible tourism practices will be implemented in various projects and initiatives.
- The Scheme will encourage adoption of principles of sustainable tourism including environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability.