Subodh Kant calls for strengthening tourism cooperation with Japan

New Delhi, Apr 30: Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai today called for strengthening cooperation in tourism sector betweenIndia andJapan. He said this when Vice Minister for Tourism of Japan Ken Kuda called on him here.

In his meeting with the Vice Minister for Tourism inJapan, Mr Sahai said both the countries have tremendous scope to develop tourism infrastructure with mutual help.

Recalling the age-old historic and cultural ties between both the nations,Sahai said “it would be appropriate if we strengthen our ties by promoting bilateral tourism”.

He suggested signing of an MoU for setting up a joint working group on tourism cooperation betweenIndiaandJapan.

While appreciating the assistance extended byJapanin developing Buddhist circuit inIndia,Sahai suggested inclusion of Bodhgaya in the same.

The Japanese leader expressed the hope that more and more tourists from both the sides will visit each other’s country.

Kuda said both the countries have potential to strengthen bilateral ties by promoting tourism. He said tourism can be linked with overall cooperation between both the countries.

Sahai recalled his visit to Sapporo Snow Festival inJapanin February this year and saidJapanwas an important source market for Indian Tourism with tremendous in-bound tourism potential.

He saidIndiareceived more than 1,68,000 tourists fromJapanduring 2011. The Tourism Minister suggested that the two countries promote an exchange programme wherein the tour operators can visit the each other’s country to understand the true tourism potential.

Sahai was of the view that golf and wellness tourism promoted by Indiacan be of great interest to Japanese tourists. (UNI)