The meeting recognized the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector

With an aim to promote tourism cooperation among the member states, India on Friday virtually organised the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting..

The significant aspect of the meeting was the adoption of the IBSA Tourism Ministers joint statement, an outcome document on cooperation and promotion for speedy recovery of travel and tourism.

At the meeting, while India was represented by Union Minister of Tourism, G Kishan Reddy, Brazil was led by its Minister of Tourism Gilson Machado Neto and South Africa was led by Fish Amos Mahlalela, Deputy Minister of Tourism.

“Chaired IBSA Tourism Ministers Meeting this evening. All of us have reviewed our common agenda on cooperation and have adopted IBSA Tourism Action Plan 2021 - 23 which aims at a holistic approach in developing the tourism sector in our countries,” Reddy said after the meeting.

The meeting recognized the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector.

The Ministers resolved to work together to realize the full potential of IBSA countries through cooperation in the tourism sector and agreed to implement various tourism activities to be actioned by respective member countries.

During the virtual meeting, Reddy highlighted the aggressive vaccination programme going on in India which has completed over 500 million doses of vaccine. The Ministers emphasized the importance of domestic tourism in reigniting the tourism economy as it can prepare the domestic tourism industry for the arrival of international visitors.

IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange.

The aim of the IBSA Tripartite Agreement is for strengthening relations between the member countries for economic development and for promoting cooperation in the field of tourism and expansion of tourism relations with a view to understand and appreciate each other's history, culture and way of life.