India, Japan Strengthen Tourism Ties at 4th Joint Working Group Meeting in New Delhi

New Delhi: The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan was successfully held in New Delhi, bringing together senior officials, tourism stakeholders, and industry leaders from both countries to strengthen bilateral ties and explore new avenues for collaborative growth in the tourism sector.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and HARAIKAWA Naoya, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). Delegations from both sides included representatives from major airlines, tourism boards, travel associations, government institutions, and private sector entities.

From the Japanese side, key organizations such as the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Japan Tourism and Transport Research Institute (JTTRI), Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) participated. The Indian delegation comprised officials from the Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, and Education, as well as representatives from the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), and Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO).

A highlight of the engagement was a Welcome Dinner hosted by the Minister of Tourism, Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, in honor of the Japanese delegation.

The meeting focused on deepening tourism cooperation, with special emphasis on promoting Buddhist heritage sites in India among Japanese travelers, enhancing air connectivity, encouraging educational tourism, and leveraging digital platforms to improve tourist experience. Both countries emphasized the importance of tapping into the millennial travel segment and discussed ways to make destinations more appealing through data-driven insights.

H.E. ONO Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, acknowledged the deep-rooted cultural ties between the two nations and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to boosting tourism exchanges for mutual economic and cultural enrichment.

Discussions also explored expanding private sector involvement, boosting influencer and media collaborations, and fostering new investment opportunities. India showcased the newly revamped Incredible India digital portal and informed the Japanese side about the upcoming launch of the Incredible India mobile app—tools aimed at offering curated travel experiences for international tourists, including bespoke itineraries for Japanese visitors.

India further informed the Japanese delegation of its planned participation in the World Expo, Osaka 2025, scheduled from September 22–28, 2025. This is expected to serve as a global platform to showcase India’s tourism potential and deepen bilateral outreach.