India, Japan to Boost Tourism Ties by Tapping Influencers
India and Japan hold 4th JWG on Tourism in New Delhi (image credit PIB)
India, Japan Hold 4th Joint Working Group Meeting on Tourism
By TRH News Desk
New Delhi, April 10, 2025: India and Japan reaffirmed their strong cultural ties and mutual commitment to bolstering tourism cooperation at the 4th Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Tourism Cooperation, held in New Delhi. India and Japan decided to tap influencers to further boost tourism in two countries.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides vowing to deepen collaborations, explore new investment avenues, and harness tourism as a key enabler of bilateral growth and people-to-people connections.
The meeting was co-chaired by Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, and Hararaikawa Naoya, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). In his remarks, Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, emphasized the deep-rooted cultural connections, especially through Buddhism, and called for enhanced mutual engagement through tourism.
The Indian delegation spotlighted key initiatives, including plans for participation at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, from September 22–28, to promote India’s tourism potential on the global stage.
Key Discussion Highlights:
Promotion of Buddhist circuits in India tailored for Japanese travelers; Enhanced air connectivity between key cities in both countries; Strategies to encourage Japanese student visits to India; Opportunities for private sector collaboration, including curated tour itineraries for Japanese visitors.
Utilization of digital tools such as the revamped Incredible India portal and the soon-to-be-launched Incredible India mobile app to provide engaging, customized travel experiences.
Both sides shared valuable visitor profile data and emphasized the importance of tourism insights to inform targeted policy decisions—especially in making destinations more appealing to millennial tourists. Emphasis was laid on leveraging media and influencer outreach to build strong narratives around travel to and from both nations.
India and Japan have witnessed a steady exchange of tourists over the past few years. In 2023, over 31,000 Japanese tourists visited India, marking a 17% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, more than 1.25 lakh Indian tourists traveled to Japan in the same year — a jump of over 30%, with Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hokkaido among the most popular destinations.
Pilgrimage tourism, especially visits to Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, continues to be a major attraction for Japanese travelers in India.
The meeting also focused on data-driven interventions to enhance visitor experiences at Buddhist sites and increase cultural tourism exchanges.
To celebrate the strong tourism ties, Minister of Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat hosted a welcome dinner for the Japanese delegation, reinforcing India’s commitment to hospitality and cultural diplomacy.
As both nations look to the future, the collaborative spirit shown at the 4th JWG meeting promises a more vibrant, sustainable, and innovative tourism ecosystem, poised to strengthen economic and cultural exchange between India and Japan.
High-level officials and private stakeholders from both countries participated, including representatives from Japan Airlines, ANA, the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), and JTTRI, along with Indian counterparts from the Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Education, and private sector bodies like IATO, OTOAI, and ABTO.
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