Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A day after the international delegates arrived in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will formally inaugurate the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Besides the 3rd Tourism Working Group Meeting, there will be two side events focusing on the film and eco-tourism in Kashmir valley. The events will have panel discussions on promoting the ilm and eco-tourism through digital and other means. As per the itinerary of the events, the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting was scheduled between 9 am till 10 am in the morning.
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This will be followed by a side event on Film Tourism. The theme of the event is 'Promoting incredible India through film tourism. The event will run from 10: 15 am till 1:30 pm. The event is open to all media persons, but no cameras will be allowed at the event. The second side event will be on Eco-tourism with the theme of 'Eco-tourism as a vehicle to achieve sustainable development goals'.
The event will be held from 2:30 pm till 5: 30 pm. The event will also be open to all media persons, but again, no cameras will be allowed at the event. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will also host a high tea for delegates and special invitees at 3:30. It is also expected that there will be a special G20 related event at city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar during the day.
Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made in the city to ensure a peaceful G20 event. The elit National Security Guards (NSG) have been deployed in the vicinity of SKICC along with the teams of NDRF and SDRF. Pertinently, India took up the G20 presidency on Dec. 1, 2022, and would maintain the position for a year.
The first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting took place in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch in February, while the second meeting took place in Siliguri, West Bengal, from April 1 to 3. Speaking to ETV Bharat, Korean embassy's first secretary in New Delhi, Jeaun Paul said, "I am impressed with the hospitality of the Indian Government. I have heard so much about Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, and its beauty. It is pristine."
Responding to a question on China not attending the meeting and Islamic countries preferring OIC over G20, she said, "As a diplomat posted in India we extend our support to the Indian government and it's decisions. It is the Indian government's decision to hold a meeting at any place in the country, so why not in Jammu and Kashmir."
"It is up to every country to decide whether to participate or not. All I can say is that Korea stands with every decision of the Indian Government," she added. Another delegate Adnan from Bahrain, said, "I feel these events will boost tourism and will boost opportunities for everyone. I feel Kashmir has potential and filmmakers from Saudi and Bahrain can definitely plan to shoot here”.
Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of India, asserted that the Jammu and Kashmir has “moved on and the common man is not interested in terrorism”. A total of 60 delegations from several countries are participating in the meeting but India's neighboring nation China decided not to attend.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have also decided to stay away from the meeting officially.
