India, Japan Deepen Tourism Cooperation at 4th Joint Working Group Meeting
The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan took place in New Delhi, to advance partnership and touristic cooperation between both nations. It was co-chaired by Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India, and Haraikawa Naoya, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), bringing together officials and private stakeholders from both countries, including representatives from airlines, tourism, and travel associations, and Government institutions. The meeting discussed ways to enhance tourism travel by improving the promotion of Buddhist heritage sites as well as upgrading aviation connections and boosting student exchange programs. Both sides emphasized the importance of data-driven approaches to improve their attractiveness toward millennial travelers.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the Ministry of Tourism plans to launch the ‘Incredible India’ mobile app that would guide Japanese travelers through curated tour designs. The delegates also assessed India’s plan to leverage ‘World Expo 2025’, scheduled for September 22-28 in Osaka, for worldwide outreach. The meeting came to an end with a welcome dinner, which was hosted by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Govt of India. During the occasion, Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, praised India-Japan cultural connections while emphasizing tourism as a key connection to mutual economic development. The exchange finished on an optimistic note as both Governments vowed to continue collaborative work and embraced the joint vision for a future-ready, forward-thinking tourism alliance.
Image Source: Ministry of Tourism