India, Japan aim to boost tourism ties
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India has held a meeting with Japan to discuss ways of further developing tourism ties between the countries.
Japan’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism, Akihiro Ohta, arrived in Delhi last week for a meeting with India’s Minister of Tourism & Culture, Shri Shripad Naik. The move follows relaxation of visa regulations between the two countries earlier this year.
As part of the agreements, India will now learn from, and collaborate with, Japan in several fields of tourism. Naik noted that there was “huge potential” for the two countries to work together on areas including “tourism infrastructure and hotel industry, in particular budget hotels”.
Japanese companies may now consider investing in the Indian hotel sector, following as relaxation of foreign investment rules in the Indian hospitality sector.
The two countries are also aiming to boost their cultural and religious links with the promotion of Buddhist sites in India among Japanese visitors. Naik noted that a new facility has been developed at Ajanta and Ellora, in the state of Maharashtra, with the assistance of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
Various Indian state governments have been participating in Japanese travel fairs for several years now, and India will now invite Japanese tour operators to take part in tourism-related events in India.
Japan is an important source market for the India tourism industry. In 2013, India welcomed 220,000 Japanese visitors, who are now offered visa-on-arrival.
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