Lok Sabha Question No. 1210 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Climate Change and Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1210 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM

## 1210. SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- whether  the  Government  has  noted  that  climate  change  and tourism are closely interlinked as the tourism sector contributes to greenhouse  gas  emissions  for  the  most  part  derived  from  the transport of tourists and it also faces profound impacts from global
- (a) warming;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any measures to address this issue; and
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (c): Recognising the inter linkages between climate change and tourism,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  a  National  Strategy  for Sustainable Tourism. Following strategic pillars have been identified for the development of sustainable tourism in the strategy document:-

- (i)
- Promoting Environmental Sustainability
- (ii) Protecting Biodiversity
- (iii)   Promoting Economic Sustainability
- (iv)
- Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability
- (v)
- (vi)
- Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism
- IEC and Capacity Building
- (vii)   Governance

A National Board for Sustainable Tourism has also been constituted under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (Tourism), comprising of representatives  from  identified  Central  Ministries/organizations,  State Governments/UT Administrations and Industry Stakeholders. The Board shall guide the operationalisation and implementation of various strategic  initiatives  for  development  of  sustainable  tourism  and  Ecotourism in the Country:

- (i) Detailed action plans and formulation of dedicated schemes
- (ii)
- Certification Schemes
- (iii) Capacity  building,  replication  of  national  and  global  best practices
- (iv)
- (v)
- (vi)
- (vii)
- Marketing and promotion
- Private Sector Participation
- Destination and Product Development
- Specific strategies for sustainable and ecotourism
- (viii)  Any other measures for growth of sustainable and ecotourism
- in the country.

Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the  United  Nations  Environment  Programme  (UNEP)  and  Responsible Tourism  Society  of  India  (RTSOI)  on  27 th  September  2021  on  the occasion of World Tourism Day.  The purpose of the MoU is to undertake measures to actively promote and support 'sustainability initiatives' in the  tourism  sector  of  each  other  and  work  in  a  collaborative  manner wherever possible.

Ministry of Tourism also organised a National Summit for developing Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Destination and Responsible Traveller Campaign in association with Responsible Tourism  Society  of  India  and  United  Nations  Environment  Programme on 4th June, 2022 at New Delhi on eve of World Environment Day. The summit was attended by representatives from identified central Ministries, State Governments/UT Administration and Industry Stakeholders.

In  addition  to  the  above,  Ministry  of  Tourism  provides  financial assistance  to  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for  infrastructure development under its  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme.   The  projects  under the Swadesh  Darshan Scheme  are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has now revamped  its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations  following  a  tourist  & destination centric approach.

******