India and Japan to Strengthen Cooperation in Tourism Sector

India and Japan have resolved to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector.  This was decided at a meeting between the visiting Japanese Senior Vice-Minister of Tourism,          Mr. Hiroshi Kajiyama and Union Tourism Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi on 12th of february 2013 in Delhi.  It was also decided that both the countries will identify areas for working together and explore new opportunities in tourism sector especially in the field of human resource development, exchange of tour operators, investment in the tourism sector and exchange of information related to tourism sector.  The possibility of signing an agreement/MoUbetween India and Japan was also discussed.  

India and Japan are important tourism markets to each other.  Japan is one of the top ten tourist generating markets for India as for as inbound tourism is concerned.  Numbers of Japanese tourist visiting India during the last five years were:

Year                                 2008                2009             2010              2011            

No. of tourists                 145352            124756       168019          193525

            Ministry of Tourism has hosted a total of 25 hospitality guests in 2009-10, 15 guests in 2010-11 and 14 guests in the year 2011-12 from Japan. This year, so far 9 guests have visited India under hospitality scheme. The guests include TV teams, Travel Agents, Tour Operator and media representative.

            There is a strong interest of Japanese Tourists in places connected with Buddhism in India.  JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has extended loan of 7331 million Japanese Yen (Rs.299 Crore) for Development of Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Development Programme – Phase II).

            Ministry of Tourism will be holding road shows in Tokyo on 18th and Osaka on 20^th of this month