The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan was held in New Delhi. The Meeting was co-chaired by Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Mugdha Sinha; and, the Commissioner Haraikawa Naoya, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA).

The meeting focused on finding new ways to work together and enhance tourism ties between the two nations. Hon`ble Minister of Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, hosted a ‘Welcome Dinner’ for the Japanese delegation.

Officials and private stakeholders from both countries took part, including representatives from airlines, tourism and travel associations, and Government institutions.

Key organizations included Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), JTTRI, Japan Airlines and ANA from the Japanese side.

The Indian delegation comprised of the Ministry of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Education, NCHMCT, ICCR and private stakeholders like Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO).

The Co- Chairs of the two countries exchanged notes on the profile of the visitors and delved into the data insights of the tourists travelling between the two countries, including Buddhist destinations, in order to undertake suitable policy interventions to make the destinations more attractive for the millennial tourists.

H.E. ONO Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, emphasized on the strong cultural ties and mutual benefits of enriched tourism between the two countries.

Key discussion points during the meeting focused on expanding bilateral tourism, with initiatives such as promoting Buddhist sites in India to Japanese tourists, improving air connectivity and encouraging Japanese student visits to the country.

The meeting also explored increased private sector involvement and strategies to harness media and influencer engagements for boosting tourist flow.

Delegation from each side shared valuable inputs and discussed new investment opportunities to strengthen co-operation in tourism sector between both nations.

The collaborative spirit and commitment demonstrated by both the sides during the meeting is expected to develop a more vibrant tourism ecosystem, contributing significantly to the economic and cultural exchange between India and Japan.

India also informed the Japanese delegation about the potential of partnerships with them for creating uniquely curated itineraries for the Japanese tourists in the recently revamped Incredible India digital portal.

The meeting concluded on a positive note with mutual assurances of ongoing dialogue, further collaborations and a reinforced commitment to leveraging tourism as a bridge for enhancing bilateral relations and mutual prosperity.

Both sides expressed commitment, dialogue and collaboration. India informed the Japanese delegation about its plans to participate in the World Expo in Osaka, scheduled for September 22-28, 2025. This participation aims to enhance outreach efforts and attract more foreign tourists to India.

Incredible India App to be launched soon

Additionally, India is set to launch the Incredible India mobile app, which will feature curated itineraries specifically designed for Japanese tourists. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance tourism experiences and promote India as a premier travel destination.

The positive outcomes of the meeting signal a strengthened commitment to leveraging tourism as a bridge for enhancing bilateral relations and mutual prosperity between India and Japan.

Exchange between Japan and India had begun in the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced to Japan. Indian culture, filtered through Buddhism, has had a great impact on Japanese culture, and this is the source of the Japanese people's sense of closeness to India.

After World War II, in 1949, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru donated an Indian elephant to the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. This brought a ray of light into the lives of the Japanese people who still had not recovered from defeat in the war. Japan and India signed a peace treaty and established diplomatic relations on 28th April, 1952. This treaty was one of the first peace treaties Japan signed after World War II.

Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations. In the post-World War II period, India's iron ore helped a great deal Japan's recovery from the devastation. Following Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi's visit to India in 1957, Japan started providing yen loans to India in 1958, as the first yen loan aid extended by Japanese government.

In September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Japan and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. They concurred to upgrade the bilateral relationship to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”

In December 2015, Prime Minister Abe paid an official visit to India and had a summit meeting with P M Modi. The two Prime Ministers resolved to transform the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership into a deep, broad-based and action-oriented partnership, which reflects a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic and strategic goals. They announced “Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World”, a joint statement that would serve as a guidepost for the “new era in Japan-India relations.”