PIB Summary- 30th September, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Paryatan Mitra And Paryatan Didi Initiative

Context

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a national responsible tourism initiative titled Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi.

Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi Initiative

Vision:
The initiative seeks to present the essence of Incredible India through the warmth and hospitality of its people, making tourism experiences more welcoming and memorable.

Pilot Locations:
The initiative has been piloted in six destinations:

• Orchha (Madhya Pradesh)
• Gandikota (Andhra Pradesh)
• Bodh Gaya (Bihar)
• Aizawl (Mizoram)
• Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
• Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)

Key Features:

• Focus on Women and Youth Training: The initiative emphasizes training women and youth in developing innovative tourism experiences like heritage walks, food tours, craft tours, nature treks, and homestay experiences.
• Inspired by “Athithi Devo Bhava” Philosophy: The training promotes treating tourists as honored guests, following the Indian tradition of hospitality.
• Employment Opportunities: The program envisions locals using these skills to seek employment in tourism as homestay owners, cuisine providers, cultural guides, natural guides, adventure guides, and more.
• Digital Training: In addition to tourism-specific training, participants receive digital literacy training to help make their tourism experiences more discoverable and accessible to tourists on a national and global scale.

BRICS

Context

The Indian External Affairs Minister recently met with his BRICS counterparts to affirm its role in a multipolar world.

What is BRICS?

• BRICS is the international grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• This was set up as a move towards greater multi­polarity; hence the spread across three continents and both hemispheres.
• In terms of GDP, China occupies the second position; India the fifth; Brazil the ninth; Russia the 11th; and South Africa the 35th.
• In terms of growth rates, China grew at 6%; India at 4.5%, Russia 1.7%, Brazil 1.2% and South Africa 0.1%.
• BRICS does not exist in form of organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of five nations.
• The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
• The BRICS seeks to deepen, broaden and intensify cooperation within the grouping and among the individual countries for more sustainable, equitable and mutually beneficial development.
• BRICS takes into consideration each member’s growth, development and poverty objectives to ensure relations are built on the respective country’s economic strengths and to avoid competition where possible.
• BRICS is emerging as a new and promising political-diplomatic entity with diverse objectives, far beyond the original objective of reforming global financial institutions.