CAPE TOWN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- South Africa hosted the first virtual Tourism Working Group meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) on Wednesday, bringing together senior officials, authorities, and experts to advance sustainable tourism growth among G20 countries.

According to a statement from the South African Tourism Department, the meeting marks the beginning of a series of engagements throughout the year leading up to the G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting in September.

The key G20 tourism priorities in the engagements include developing people-centered artificial intelligence, innovation to enhance travel, and tourism start-ups and small-, micro- and medium-sized enterprises, said the department.

Other focus areas include promoting tourism financing and investment to enhance equality and sustainable development, improving air connectivity for seamless travel, and boosting resilience for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

The Tourism Working Group is among the 16 working groups of the G20 tasked with finding multi-sector policy-driven solutions to advance global socio-economic and political stability.

"As the first African country to preside over the G20 presidency, South Africa will utilize its term to drive a developmental agenda that will benefit the continent, through the theme 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability' to foster a better Africa, and a better world," the South African Tourism Department said.

The second G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting is scheduled for May 11 to 13 in KwaZulu-Natal Province, followed by the third meeting on Sept. 10 to 11 in Mpumalanga Province.

The G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting will then take place on Sept. 12, also in Mpumalanga Province, where participants will focus on advancing global tourism priorities and fostering sustainable development in the sector. Enditem

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