Union Minister of Tourism Gajendra Singh Sekhawat and Director General Mugdha Sinha with the Japanese delegation, after the 4th JWG meeting on Tourism Cooperation between the two countries.
| Photo Credit: X/@tourismgoi
Initiatives like promoting Buddhist sites in India for Japanese tourists, encouraging Japanese student visits to the country and improving air connectivity between the two countries were among the key issues discussed for expanding bilateral tourism between India and Japan.
The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan also explored increased private sector involvement and strategies to harness media and influencer engagements for boosting tourist flow.
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The meeting was co-chaired by Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Mugdha Sinha, and Haraikawa Naoya, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). Also present were officials and private stakeholders from both countries, including representatives from airlines, tourism and travel associations and other government institutions.
Some of the key organisations included the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and Japan Airlines from the Japanese side.
The Indian delegation comprised the Ministry of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Education, and private stakeholders like the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) and Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO).
The delegations from each side shared valuable inputs and discussed new investment opportunities to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector between both nations, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Tourism.
The co-chairs of the two countries exchanged notes on the profile of the visitors and delved into data insights of tourists travelling between the two countries, including to Buddhist destinations, in order to undertake suitable policy interventions to make the destinations more attractive for the millennial tourists.
Published – April 10, 2025 08:36 pm IST