Tuesday, 27 September 2022: Built on strong cooperation and shared responsibility, Tourism Ministers reaffirmed support to rebuild tourism as a more resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and safe sector.
The G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting (‘TMM’) held in Bali, Indonesia, discussed the future of global tourism under the G20 theme ‘recover together, recover stronger’ sector.
Each Presidency hosts Ministerial meetings on focus areas that further matters of international relevance – building consensus around shared deliverables.
Under the 2022 Presidency of Indonesia, a key outcome of the G20 TMM was the endorsement of the G20 Bali Guidelines for Strengthening Communities and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as Tourism Transformation Agents: a People-Centered Recovery which asserts a collective stance on supporting tourism as a transformative sector.
Representing Fiji and the Pacific was the Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya, who shared with the Forum a Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) perspective.
“We welcome the five Pillars of the Bali Guidelines. They prioritise our greatest assets – human capital. They strive to enhance innovation and digitalization. It puts women and youth at its heart — while calling for stronger governance and investments. Most importantly, it recognises our call to climate action,” said Minister Koya.
The Guidelines embody a policies and best practices in five main lines of actions including Pillar 1: Human capital: jobs, skills, entrepreneurship and education; Pillar 2: Innovation, digitalization and creative economy; Pillar 3: Women and youth empowerment; Pillar 4: Climate action, biodiversity conservation and circular economy; and Pillar 5: Policy, governance and investment frameworks.
In acknowledging that the G20 members represent over 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population, Hon. Koya added that this makes the G20 a leading forum of change.
“The recovery of only 20 countries isn’t a recovery at all. Every country that is left out or left behind leaves huge potential on the table for every nation. The strongest possible comeback for the world economy is only ensured by ensuring that all countries are on an equal playing field of opportunity,” added Minister Koya.
Fiji, on behalf of the Pacific, called on a more permanent observatory role of the Pacific the G20.
Along the margins, Fiji held a number of bilateral meetings to further discussions on tourism priorities and strengthen multilateral collaboration with G20 countries.
The next G20 TMM is expected to be held under India’s Presidency.