India and Japan Enter into Memorandum in the Field of Tourism

India and Japan have entered into a Memorandum for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism. The Memorandum was signed between Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure , Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan in New Delhi on 22nd January, 2014. Mr. Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in his capacity as Director General, Tourism and Mr. Shigeto Kubo, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency signed the Memorandum. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shigeto Kubo, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency expressed the hope that the Memorandum would facilitate travel and tourist visits and further strengthen the tourism partnership between the two countries. Mr. Parvez Dewan , Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India said that religious tourism in the form of Buddhist heritage sites is a great attraction for Japanese tourists to India. He said that Japanese tourists have been availing visa-on-arrival in a major way and the highest number of visas on arrival were issued to the tourists from Japan during 2013, as in previous years. Japan is an important source market for Indian Tourism. During 2013, India received 2.20 lakh tourists from Japan. This Memorandum between India and Japan is intended to serve as the key instrument for greater action oriented cooperation and further strengthening the close tourism partnership between the two countries. The main objectives of the Memorandum are : a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector; b) To exchange information and data related to tourism ; c) To encourage cooperation between Tour Operators and tourism stakeholders including Hotel owners; d) To establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resource Development; e) To exchange visits of Tour Operators/Media/ Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism; f) To exchange experience in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management; g) To participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country; and h) To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism.