Tourism

Goa, 20.06.2023: The Inaugural session of the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting under G20 hosted by the Ministry of Tourism was held at Goa. The session was addressed by Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and DoNER G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Tourism Ajay Bhatt; Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik and Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant. Minister of Tourism in Goa Rohan Khaunte graced the occasion. Addressing the inaugural session Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G.K Reddy said in the past few months, G20 Tourism Working Group Meetings were held under India’s Presidency and it includes first meeting at Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, second at Siliguri, West Bengal, third meeting at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir and had some insightful, thought provoking and positive discussions on different types of tourism products with experts, innovators, and leaders from, across the world. He also added that a visit to India, would be incomplete, without experiencing the beauty, greatness and richness of our spiritual strength and diversity of different places of the country. He said “We are home to more than, 50 Shakti Peethas, where the divinity of women is worshipped. India is the birth place of Sikhism and we have the Sikh Golden Temple, Amritsar, which is a symbol of brother-hood and equality. He also said “India is the birth place of the Buddhism and Jainism and has around 80% Hindu population. The 200 large Buddhist monasteries across India remind us of the Buddhist principles of non-violence and the Jain philosophy of living in harmony with nature forms, the basis for the Government’s Mission LiFE – Lifestyle For Environment.” Speaking about Prime Minister’s leadership he said “Ensuring that rich heritage, and civilizational strength gets due recognition, our government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji, has been promoting tourism since 2014 and he is our very own Tourism Ambassador introducing , Indian tourism at a global level.” He further remarked “Since ancient times, travelling to India was an avenue for finding oneself and India has always been a popular destination for travellers from all corners of the globe seeking and Self-discovery. This has provided opportunities for people across 200 countries and varied faiths to experience India’s Culture and Spiritual Heritage.” G.K Reddy further informed that in India, in the spirit of our ancient philosophy of ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ – where the guest is treated as divine, our foreign tourist arrivals after COVID 19 again have increased and Foreign Tourists during the period, January to April 2023 is 166% higher than arrivals registered during the last year same period in 2022. India is expected to recover its, inbound travel to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. He further said that the final meeting will provide us all, action points and recommendations for national and other governments, and other tourism stakeholders, to act upon to achieve, Sustainable Development Goals. Union Minister also informed “Currently our Indian government has two priorities: Sustainable infrastructure creation, to cater to the growing needs of the tourists, and Raising awareness among the tourists, for responsible consumption and adoption of an environmentally conscious lifestyle and through the launch of the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard, a legacy has been created. The dashboard being developed, shall promote policies and initiatives by the G20 countries, and guest countries in building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient sector. He also appealed to that together and build a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable tourism sector for our future generation. Speaking on the occasion, Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Tourism said that Goa is the perfect holiday destination and is a colourful kaleidoscope of different things to see and do. It has serene landscape, palm-lined beaches, golden sands, lush green countryside, an amazing mosaic of wonderful cultural history, and a unique mix of east and west cultures. Shripad Yesso Naik also said “The well-developed tourism infrastructure along the coastal areas and water bodies combined with favourable weather conditions aid in promoting adventure tourism in the country as is evident in the growing popularity of the segment amongst domestic and foreign tourists.” He also said that the National Strategy for Adventure Tourism has been launched to position India as a preferred adventure tourism destination and help adventure tourism grow in the country. This strategy focuses on developing adventure destinations, promoting safety in adventure tourism, skill development, capacity building and marketing. He further added that the Goa Roadmap for Tourism builds on the efforts of the G20 Tourism Working Group in the past three years and identifies five interconnected priority areas under the India’s G20 Presidency of Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skill Development, Tourism MSMEs and Destination Management with corresponding recommended actions to progress the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. He also said that the. Goa Roadmap shall be a key guiding tool for creation of a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism sector. Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Tourism Ajay Bhatt said that Tourism gives people the chance to learn about other cultures and empowers communities, which helps the economy grow. Creation of robust infrastructure at the destination boosted by enhancement in last mile connectivity has facilitated an increase of tourism experiences in the country. Further, social media has also contributed a lot in promotion of lesser-known tourism destinations as tourists look out for enriching experiences combining thrill, pleasure, and cultural exchange. Informing about the PRASAD scheme he said “It is interesting to note that India is a major hub for spiritual tourism and heritage tourism. I take immense pride in informing the esteemed gathering that the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India was started in 2014-2015 by the Ministry of Tourism in order to make pilgrimage destinations and heritage cities more appealing to tourists.” He also added that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India also lays great focus on development of rural tourism destinations that aim to preserve and promote cultural and

15th June 2023, Delhi: The Ministry of Tourism is organising the fourth G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting from 19th to 22 June 2023 in Goa. Briefing media in New Delhi today, Secretary Tourism, Smt V. Vidyavathi said that under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. Giving more details, the Secretary said that there are two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group, which are GOA Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration both of which will be finalised shortly. During the meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations will welcome and endorse both the documents. She also added that the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Goa aims to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote tourism and sustainable development of the region. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, welcomes the participation of Tourism Ministers, Heads of Delegations and delegates from G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations to collectively work towards advancing the tourism sector and achieving the UN sustainable development goals 2030. A side event on ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’ will be organized , focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism. The event will see the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event will witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally. A panel discussion featuring esteemed speakers from G20 Member countries and guest countries will shed light on country specific policies and initiatives on varied aspects of cruise tourism, its growth and need to make cruise tourism sustainable and responsible. Smt V. Vidyavathi said that, along the sidelines of the main event , a national level side event is also being organized which will focus on ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’, to deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in the country following the principles of sustainability. The deliberation upon Multi Facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional and Yachting), perspectives from Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, perspectives from Riverine States will be the focus areas of discussion during the event. The event will see the participation of key States and Union Territories, Industry Stakeholders, national and international experts. She also informed that “The Ministry of Tourism is also organizing a side event ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’ in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This side event will focus on encouraging engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event will encompass high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions will be followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders and a signing ceremony to welcome the adherence of several organizations to the GTPI. Further, a ‘Public Private Dialogue: Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies’ is also being co-organized by the Ministry of Tourism in Goa on 21st June 2023 in association with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Dialogue is an opportunity for participants to share their priorities and concerns and identify opportunities for mutual support and greater public-private partnership. This discussion will align and provide a private sector perspective on the 5 priority areas set out for the G20 tourism track. The Dialogue will start by opening the conversation on the respective importance and relevance of these priorities to the private sector and potential areas of support and collaboration from the public sector. The Secretary informed that good practices and case studies on sustainable tourism by participating countries will be shared on a Dashboard which is being created for the purpose.It will be a dynamic dashboard which will serve as a learning platform for various countries and these case studies will continue to be uploaded on it for coming next three years, she added. Secretary Tourism also remarked that to celebrate the ‘International Day of Yoga’ on June 21, which coincides with the G20 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting, a special yoga session has been organized by the state government of Goa. This session will offer an enchanting experience of yoga to all G20 Tourism Ministers and delegates, providing them with a moment of serenity and mindfulness amidst the busy proceedings of the meeting. It highlights the significance of incorporating wellness practices in the tourism sector and emphasizes the importance of holistic well-being. On the occasion, Additional Secretary, Shri Rakesh Verma gave a presentation highlighting the important events and schedule of the meeting. Various cultural programs will be organized to highlight and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Goa to the international G20 delegates. Some of the choreographed programs planned are: Lamp Dance, Kathak Dance, GoanMandoMusic and Dance presentation, Dekhni Dance, Mussal Khel (Pastel Dance) and Gomant Rang. Delegates will also have the opportunity to experience the local attractions of Goa. Excursion visits have been planned to Lower Aguada Fort and Jail Museum, and experiencing the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Churches and Convents of Goa viz. the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St Francis of Assisi and Se Cathedra land Archaeological Museum. During the meeting, the delegates will also be visiting the Art and Craft Bazaar organized by the State Government showcasing local handicrafts, work of artisans, signifying the importance of community participation. DIY Activities at the Craft Bazaar have been planned to have hands on experience. The Ministry of Tourism is promoting local products of Goa by handing below souvenirs to the delegates: Embroidered Stole/Scarf (Made from Handmade Kunbi Fabric) G.I. Cashew Feni Miniature Terracotta Lotus

India ranked 4th among all overseas markets for the USA excluding Canada and Mexico, with 1.26 Million total arrivals in 2022. The latest figures released in February 23 revealed over 2 Lac Indians traveled to the US, showing continuous growth in visitor arrivals. India is an important market for Brand USA and America and JACKIE ENNIS, VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL MARKETS, BRAND USA talks with VISHAL KASHYAP, MANAGING EDITOR, and AVIATION WORLD MAGAZINE on all the key topics including enhanced flight connectivity and more. Excerpts… How has been year 2022 in terms of tourist arrival? We are in a post pandemic recovery yet. One of our key challenges is air connectivity between the United States and all over major target markets. From an Indian point of view ,we are actually very pleased with the air connectivity. We have such great non -stop direct routes and connectivity and some new flights on Air India. We are only hopeful that will increase even in 2023-24 with the purchase of the new planes. We also have India to the US connectivity through Europe and through the Middle East and through the pacific. Could you share number in terms of Indian arrivals into the US? In 2022, India was ranked 4 in international overseas arrival into the United States excluding Canada and Mexico. That’s hugely significant as we had 1.26 million Indian visitors in 2022 which includes all category types of arrivals from India. This is only 15 % down in numbers in comparison to Pre-Pandemic arrival from India in 2019. Indian students in 2022 are the No. 1 source of visitors to the US from India which is really significant. Any specific segment of travellers from India to be focused upon? We value all of the segments from India and in our mind as I said students are important obviously for educational establishments because they generate the family and friends visiting. Its usually the leisure travellers (VFR) and also increase in the business traveler. Those are all really important segments. In 2022 (Jan-Dec) we had 71 % of our people came for leisure, 19 % was students and we had 10 % for the business. The other thing was that 1.25 Million which was very marginally down with the highest peak which we had touch in 2019 was 1.47 million visitors. That to in 2021 first quarter we don’t had any commercial flight which started in March 2021 onwards. Despite that we had V-shaped recovery with the Indian arrivals. What is the response of recently added Mumbai-SFO flights and from the Bangalore-SFO Flights? The response to these flights has been really positive. There is a high demand and certainly of the 46 flights that Air India has into the United States, 16 of them are those to SFO. So that speaks to the popularity I think probably from the leisure, from business and from an educational point of view. Any more connectivity between the two countries can we see ahead? Definitely, I think United Airlines is hoping to do new direct flight but the issues is the ongoing Ukraine war and the flight overfly Russian airspace. We anticipate though hopefully soon the conflict is resolved and that flight will be able to increase the both in frequency but also new routes. So, there was one route going to start from Bangalore to Seattle with United Airlines and Delhi to Seattle by American Airlines but due to ongoing war plan is on hold. What is your emphasis for marketing Brand USA in India? Our biggest emphasis for India is that we want to generate business across the country. Brand USA represents all area and regions of the United States. Our intention is to promote the diversity of all of the small cities and towns and coral areas as well. We do that in number of ways by educating and informing our travel agencies and tour operators which we have seen a hike in growth in luxury products with unique experiences. So, our education process is really focused around those very unique opportunities and experiences by having various adventure and tourism activities. This time, we have brought our 25 partners in the sales mission and for many of them this is the first time they are coming to India because they recognize the potential of the market. Any specific plans for promotion of Brand USA in India? We definitely want to work with some of the new technology platforms and their target market will be the United States. Understanding that post pandemic in a very different travel manner scheme , understanding that there is a huge difference between the way Indians use to perhaps travel to the US now and that’s been transformational. We have seen the growth in FIT traveler and there is kind of more sensitive around the fact that they want to have their own unique experience and travel independently. To be able to engage that audience I think we have to start inspiring on a consumer level in a very different way but then also have the ability to have our travel trade and travel agents be able to sell and promote those types of destinations. So their product knowledge is really important to us and our emphasis will be on giving confidence to sell those individual products in a way that they can make money and create different type of experience with the Indian traveler. Any progress on the US Visa timeline? It’s getting better and the good thing is that there has been massive acknowledgement of this issue. The Ministry of External Affairs which manages Visa has said that India is the country which has massive visa issues apart from Mexico which is border country. They have more consular staff than have ever had issuing visas in India. They have brought in more staff from the US and other consular offices to focus on India as the demand for Visa from India is very high. The wait time for

Exclusive Interview  Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is not just a place – it’s a journey! With its unique combination of mountains, coastal beaches, desert, pearls and many more RAK is one of the perfect destinations for both leisure and adventure. At the Arab Aviation Summit 2023, Mr. Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) interacts with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World and discussed on key points towards Introduction to RAK, its future plans and aviation strategies. Excerpts… For RAK, 2022 has been a significant year with 1.13 million tourist footfall. What are the projections for 2023? 2022 has indeed been a momentous year for Ras Al Khaimah. Achieving our highest ever annual visitor numbers with 1.13M overnight arrivals in 2022 is an important step in driving the Emirate’s continued growth as a destination of the future, in addition to being recognised in Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022 and CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023. This strong performance is thanks to a proactive, future-forward and agile investment and development strategy, and guides our ultimate goal of welcoming 3 million visitors annually by 2030. Which country caters to a large number of tourists to RAK? Our key source markets include Kazakhstan, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, India and Czech Republic – representing a 40% year-on-year increase in all international visitors last year. RAK Int. Airport mainly operates LCCs. With Qatar starting flights from Nov 23 onwards, do you look forward to attracting more FSCs? We are always pleased to see new flight routes and connections being added to our local airport. While it is true that Ras Al Khaimah International Airport currently operates mainly low-cost carriers, we are always looking to attract a broader range of airlines, including full-service carriers. The announcement of Qatar Airways starting flights to Ras Al Khaimah from November 2023 onwards is exciting news for us as it not only opens up a new route but also gives us the opportunity to attract more full-service carriers to our airport. We believe that this new connection with Qatar Airways will provide a valuable link, connecting our city with more international destinations, and potentially attracting more travellers. We are confident that our efforts in promoting Ras Al Khaimah as an attractive destination combined with the increased connectivity from our airport will lead to more full-service carriers considering operating to and from our airport. What is the overall growth plan for increase in number of hotel rooms, tourist destinations, malls, shopping destination etc. As one of the fasting growing destinations in the region, we are actively accelerating our tourism and hospitality offerings. Our hospitality inventory– reaching 8,000 keys in 2022 –is set to further expand with an additional 6,533 keys from 19 upcoming properties, including leading brands like Marriott, Anantara, Nobu and Sofitel. These mark an 82% increase versus current inventory – one of the highest development rates in the UAE. A major addition will be the multi-billion-dollar integrated resort development in partnership with Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. As the largest-of-its-kind direct foreign tourism investment project in Ras Al Khaimah,the property is set to attract a new segment of traveller to the Emirate, with 1,000+ rooms, shopping, meeting and convention facilities, spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, extensive entertainment choices, and a gaming area. India is one of your key markets. What are the plans in terms of any road shows or events lined for year ahead? India is a very important market for us. We have previously concentrated our efforts in major cities, but to tap into India’s immense potential, it is essential for us to expand our reach. This year we are targeting 28 cities with good flight connectivity, a receptive travel audience and engaged trade partners. One of our primary goals is to engage with travel agents and tour operators in India, to ensure that they are well-informed about the tourism offerings of Ras Al Khaimah. To that end, we have roadshows planned in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to name a few. By being present in more cities, we aim to enhance our outreach and drive growth in the Indian market. What steps are being taken by RAKTDA to obtain “Sustainable Tourism Destination” certificate? Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do in Ras Al Khaimah. Placing all aspects of sustainability at the centre of our development and investment strategies, we have committed AED 500 million for the development of over 20 purpose-driven tourism projects that will enhance our natural environment in partnership. We are also investing in Cultural Conservation, with four tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites; and diversifying our portfolio with sustainable accommodation on Jebel Jais to provide a mountain retreat experience with guided treks, mindful pursuits and creative experiences. Our measured approach also includes working with Earth Check to co-create genuine sustainable practices. We recently registered 30 hotels and attractions for the process and – owing to the success of showcasing our commitment towards a sustainability pathway – received the Bronze certification. Our “Green Hotels Rating” initiative works in parallel to encourage 100% integrated sustainability across our hotel partners, and our Tourism Business Accreditation Programme provides a management framework to help individual businesses grow their sustainability efforts as a means of benchmarking their performance. We anticipate over 20 businesses will receive tourism certifications in the first year. And finally, our Destination Certification Programme provides a firm basis for action on sustainable management.

23rd March 2023, New Delhi: Ministry of Tourism organised a roundtable interaction with heads of mission as a run up to first Global Tourism Investor’s Summit.As an initiative under India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India shall be organizing the country’s first Global Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS) in New Delhi from 17-19 May 2023. The Roundtable Interaction with Heads of Missions was chaired by Shri G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER. While addressing the Heads of the Missions at Vigyan Bhawan today, Shri Reddy remarked that guided by the Vision of Prime Minister, tourism development and promotion is being undertaken in Mission Mode by the Government. He also stated that the current investment landscape of the country makes it an appropriate destination for investment in various sub sectors of the Indian tourism industry such as Hospitality & Lodging, Wellness tourism, Adventure tourism, Eco-Tourism, Rural Tourism and others. The Minister thanked all the participating Missions for attending the Roundtable Interaction and invited them to actively participate in the forthcoming Investors Summit and be a part of India`s growth and development in the tourism sector. Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism mentioned that in order to showcase investible opportunities to investors, till now 25 states have shared 350 plus investable projects with a total investment potential of around Rs. 64,000 Cr. (USD 7.7 billion) with the Ministry of Tourism. He stated that GTIS will also have several knowledge sessions focused on topics such as sustainability, digitalization, technology, insights, state-specific issues, and other sub-sectors of tourism. These sessions will facilitate business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements. Mr. K B Kachru, Member, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality stated that GTIS is the right platform for all the tourism & hospitality industries operating outside India to come, witness the huge Indian market, and leverage the available investment opportunities. A total of 42 Foreign Missions participated in today`s Interaction. The G-20 Presidency will give India’s tourism sector an unparalleled opportunity to highlight India’s tourism offerings and share India’s tourism success stories on a global stage. India’s tourism market is set for a growth trajectory due to improved infrastructure, global connectivity, higher disposable incomes and the development of niche tourism products opening opportunities for foreign investors. Tourism sector has emerged as one of the fastest growing economic sectors and has a significant impact on trade, job creation, investment, infrastructure development and social inclusion. The objective of GTIS 2023, being organized in partnership with Invest India as the Investment Promotion and Facilitation partner and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the Industry Partner, is to provide a common platform for interactions between global and domestic players and explore the investment opportunities in the Indian travel and hospitality sector. India has a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products which includes cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports such as Golf and Polo, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions), ecotourism, film, rural and spiritual tourism and the Investor Summit will provide a two-way platform for showcasing of the unique offerings of India while the potential investors from foreign countries can identify the state-specific investment possibilities in the segment unique to that State. A web-site www.gtistourism.in has also been developed which will help in taking forward the public-private engagements beyond the event as well. All the G20 countries are expected to participate at the mega event. 100% FDI in the tourism and Hospitality sector is allowed under automatic route. In the last 8 years from 2014-2022, India has received FDI inflows worth USD 9.2 billion in the hotel and tourism sector whereas India had received FDI inflows worth USD 7.2 billion from 2000-2014. States are also actively working on policies and providing incentives and concessions to attract private investments for Homestays, MICE infrastructure, Wellness tourism, Eco tourism etc. In line with the push towards streamlining of approvals, the Ministry of Tourism is integrating with National Single Window System (NSWS) platform and reduce the number of approvals required to setup a new project in Tourism & Hospitality sector. 7 States are actively working with NSWS to provide a unified interface to identify and apply for approvals required for setting up a hotel.

Mumbai, March 21, 2023: Global warming and its resultant impact on the environment and mankind have forced countries globally to take concrete measures to curb the damage and preserve for the future – and India is at the forefront of this movement. SEBI has mandated the top 1,000 listed companies in India by market capitalization to make filings as per the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) from FY23. Coming against this backdrop, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company SOTC Travel, announced their partnership with global technology consulting and digital solutions company LTIMindtree, to launch “Green Carpet” – a global platform to monitor and manage business travel emissions. Green Carpet is built on the combined prowess of Thomas Cook & SOTC’s deep expertise in the travel industry, LTIMindtree’s ESG consulting and digital solutions capabilities and also leverages the global expertise of Fairfax Digital Services (a Fairfax company). A SaaS-based platform, “Green Carpet” is designed to address specific concerns faced by organizations, helping them capture, monitor, analyze and reduce their carbon emissions from business travel. It offers real-time insights related to Scope 3 emissions and helps organizations to significantly reduce their ESG reporting costs. “Green Carpet” enables: 1. Simplified data capture & analysis of travel emissions with real time dashboards 2. Adherence to BRSR and aligned to global audit requirements 3. Swift and easy integration with current business travel platforms of corporates 4. Advanced AI & ML to provide analytics & recommendations 5. Decision making to drive enterprise net zero goals Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Under its G20 Presidency, India has set ambitious ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) goals, & India Inc. has been called on to implement SEBI’s BRSR mandate starting FY23. The need for a trustworthy partner to provide accuracy and speed in reporting is hence an imperative. At Thomas Cook & SOTC, our leadership in the travel sector formed the basis of our partnership with LTIMindtree – a leading technology solutions provider. “Green Carpet” therefore, not only embodies this potent partnership of leaders, but also leverages the global expertise of Fairfax Digital Services to collectively empower enterprises with the ability to seamlessly monitor and manage business travel emissions and drive their net zero goals.” Sudhir Chaturvedi, President and Executive Board Member, LTIMindtree said, “ESG has become a board-level priority for nearly all organizations, especially in cognizance of India’s ambitious goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. To achieve this goal, organizations are investing in initiatives and infrastructure that will enable them to track, reduce and report carbon footprint seamlessly. The Green Carpet, powered by LTIMindtree’s ESG digital platform and advanced analytics techniques and Thomas Cook & SOTC’s travel expertise, will help climate-conscious clients to comply with regulatory expectations. It will accelerate their net-zero journey through data-driven engineering solutions, cloud computing data analytics, and enable business decisions towards sustainable future.” Sanjay Tugnait, CEO of Fairfax Digital Services said: “Green Carpet is a scalable and powerful tool that will enable the enterprise customers accelerate their journey to Net Zero. This is an exemplary partnership between Thomas Cook, SOTC & LTIMindtree powered by the Global Knowhow of Fairfax Digital to create ESG solutions. To capture, measure, benchmark and report is not only a requirement by SEBI for scope 3 emissions but also a social obligation for us to do our bit and save the planet. In this the year of India’s G20 Presidency, as a member of the G20 Startup 20 Task Force on Sustainability, under the leadership of Dr Chintan Vaishnav, I am delighted we have built this digital solution that India can showcase amongst the G20 nations.”