SRINAGAR — A delegation of G20 countries arrived here on Monday to attend the third tourism working group meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) by the banks of the famous Dal Lake.
The delegates were received at the Srinagar international airport by Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa.
The delegates drove to SKICC where a traditional welcome with turban, tilak and flowers was accorded to them.
Out of the 60 delegates who arrived here, the largest number is of the Singapore delegation while China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have abstained.
In the afternoon, the formal meeting of the group will begin that will discuss five key priority areas — Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, MSMEs and Destination Management.
As part of the elaborate security bandobust, the road leading to the venue will remain closed for vehicular movement for two days. Local traffic police has already issued an advisory appealing to people to adopt alternate routes.
Largest number of G20 delegates
Largest number of G20 delegates have registered for the three-day working group’s meeting in J&K’s Srinagar city although some countries are not coming for logistic reasons, the Union tourism secretary, Arvind Singh told reporters.
Talking to reporters at the SKICC venue of the G20 meeting, the tourism secretary said, “We are happy that there will be sizeable number of delegates, even if it necessitated some alterations to the schedule. Singapore is sending the largest delegation.”
G20 coordinator, Harshvardan Shringla said, “We have completed over 118 meetings so far.”
Majority of these delegates will stay at Srinagar’s Taj Vivanta and Lalit Grand Palace.
Artists from Jammu and Kashmir will perform for the delegates before the meeting begins.
Officials said that all pertinent tourism-related topics have been included in the meeting.
“The goal of the meeting is to promote and revitalise Jammu and Kashmir’s culture, heritage, and tourism,” official said. — IANS
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Cover photo: Foreign delegates being welcomed as they arrive to participate in the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting, in Srinagar on Monday. — IANS
