G20 Tourism Working Group Sets 2025 Action Plan
The G20 Tourism Working Group has agreed to develop action plans for four key priorities:
- Artificial intelligence AI development
- Financing and investments
- Air connectivity
- Enhanced resilience to advance the sector
The working group met virtually on Wednesday March 5 during the first of several engagements planned ahead of the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting to be held in South Africas Mpumalanga province on September 12. Senior officials and experts in the tourism sectors of the G20 countries, invited guest countries and international organisations attended the meeting chaired by South African Department of Tourism Director General Nkhumeleni Victor Vele .
Elaborating on the four priorities, discussions included:
- An action plan on people-centred AI and innovation to enhance travel and tourism start-ups and small, medium and micro enterprises SMMEs. As SMMEs make up 80 of all tourism businesses, the working group will leverage programmes such as UN Tourisms Digital Futures to increase their digital capacity. This will be supported by case studies and examples of innovative AI and digital transformation.
- Hosting the G20 Tourism Financing and Investment seminar at the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting. The seminar will address the need to increase financing of tourism projects and investment through development banks and other mechanisms.
- A G20 Tourism report on air connectivity. Recognising that direct flights are essential for tourism growth, the report will form the basis of an action plan to strengthen partnerships between the tourism and transport sectors and advance flagship projects such as the Single African Air Transport Market.
- An action plan to enhance resilience for inclusive, sustainable tourism development. Encouraging a new trajectory for inclusive tourism growth, considering preparedness for future disasters that may affect the sector, this action plan will focus on holistic and collaborative approaches among governments, the private sector, local communities and international organisations.
The second G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting will take place from May 11-13 in KwaZulu-Natal. A third meeting is set for September 10-11 in Mpumalanga.
As the first African country to preside over the G20 presidency, South Africa is using its term to drive an Africa-focused development agenda.