Travel for LiFE Program on WORLD TOURISM DAY, 27 September, 2023

As you may be aware, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in partnership with United Nations World Tourism Organization and United Nations Environment Program is organizing the Global Launch of Travel for LiFE Program on World Tourism Day September 27, 2023.

G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD) while recommitting to achieving SDGs has highlighted the crucial role of tourism and culture as a means for sustainable socioeconomic development and economic prosperity, and noted the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as one of the vehicles for achieving the SDGs. New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration also noted the launch of “Travel for LiFE” and supported the development of smart destinations that are responsible and sustainable.

The Goa Roadmap examines the challenges and opportunities, objectives and recommendations on the five key priority areas of Sustainable Tourism, Digitalization, Tourism MSMEs, Skills and Destination Management identified under India’s G20 Presidency for achieving SDGs. The roadmap also advocates many visitors led actions inspired by Travel for LiFE program, which was unveiled on the sidelines of 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting at Srinagar. Taking the G20 Momentum for Tourism Sector Forward.

Introduced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on 1st November 2021 during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is a global mass  movement led by India urging individuals and communities to act for protection of the environment against the effects of the climate change. Mission LiFE was formally launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 19th October 2022, in the presence of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. 9. Mission LiFE embodies the spirit of the Pro Planet People (P3) model and functions on the basic principles of “Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet”.

Travel for LiFE program – The key principles

Travel for LiFE program, inspired by Mission LiFE, calls for a transition from a “use-anddispose” economy to a circular economy characterized by mindful and deliberate utilization of resources instead of mindless and destructive consumption to preserve the resources of the environment. Travel for LiFE program will nudge tourists and tourism businesses to practice a lifestyle that is synchronous with nature and does not harm it. It aims to encourage large scale behavioural changes and mainstream sustainability into tourism sector.

An illustrative list of “Travel for LiFE” actions for tourists has been identified. These actions are in line with Mission LiFE and have been classified under the following themes:

(i). Save Energy (ii). Save Water (iii). Say No to Single Use Plastic (iv). Reduce Waste (v). Empower Local Businesses and Communities  (vi). Respect Local Culture and Heritage (vii). Consume Local Foods (viii). Conserve Nature

The Program focuses on a set of actions to simultaneously cause a Change in Demand and a Change in Supply to achieve awareness and adoption of responsible consumption and production by nudging the tourists and tourism businesses.