The 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan took place on April 8, 2025, in New Delhi, co-chaired by Mugdha Sinha, Director General of the Indian Ministry of Tourism, and Haraikawa Naoya, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency. The meeting involved officials and stakeholders from both nations, including participation from key organizations such as the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and various Indian tourism associations like the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).
Discussions centered on enhancing tourism ties, examining visitor profiles, and utilizing data insights to boost attractions for millennial tourists, particularly to Buddhist sites. H.E. ONO Keiichi, Japan’s Ambassador to India, highlighted the strong cultural connections between the two countries.
Initiatives proposed during the meeting included promoting Indian Buddhist destinations to Japanese tourists, improving air connectivity, and facilitating Japanese student visits to India. Furthermore, collaboration with the private sector and leveraging media for tourism promotion were emphasized.
The Indian delegation also presented opportunities for partnership in creating curated itineraries on the upcoming revamped Incredible India digital portal and announced the imminent launch of the Incredible India mobile app. The dialogue concluded positively, with commitments to ongoing collaboration and leveraging tourism to strengthen bilateral relations. India shared plans to participate in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, from September 22-28, 2025, aiming to boost foreign tourist arrivals and wishing the Japanese delegation success in their preparations for the event.
