Backgrounder

1. Japan is one of India’s top tourists generating market.  The figures of tourist arrival from Japan to India during the last few years are as follows:

2000                98159

2001                80634

2002                59709

2003                  77996

2004                  96851

2005                  102000

2006                  119292* (Provisional)

2. Outbound traffic from India to Japan are as follows :-

2002                2003                 2004

45,394             47,520              53,000

3. Profile of the Japanese Tourist to India

a)       The seniors, young women in their 20s and 30s and students

b)       A majority of tourists participate in excursion package tour mostly to North India

c)       Some students and young travelers enjoy personally arranged backpacking trip

d)       Buddhists pilgrimage tour to Buddhist Circuit.

4. Popular Destinations in India for Japanese Tourists

a)       90% of the package tour itineraries include Delhi-Agra (Taj Mahal)-Jaipur ‘Golden Triangle’.

b)       ‘Taj is the first, the second and the third.’

c)       The most popular destination among Japanese travelers is Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is the symbol of India – it’s picture appears on every India tour brochure.

d)       Varanasi, Khajuraho, Ajanta and Ellora are the destinations also frequently visited by Japanese tourists.

5.       The Ministry of Tourism launched extensive media campaign around the world directly and also through its overseas offices.  The campaign was especially targeted towards the source markets in East Asia including Japan as part of “Look East Policy” to get greater number of tourists from with special interest in Buddhist sites.

6.       Sites connected to life and teachings of Buddha which are spread all across in India from Leh in the North to Amravati in the South, Arunachal Pradesh in the East to Ajanta Ellora in the West can be used to promote India to increase the tourist arrivals from Japan.  

7.       With assistance of JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project (Phase-I) was undertaken in Maharashtran with a loan to the tune of 3745 million Japanese Yen.  

8.          After successful completion of Phase-I of Ajanta Ellora in 2002 a loan agreement was signed in 2003 whereby JBIC agreed to provide the loan assistance of 7331 Japanese Yen or Rs.299.2 crores for the Phase-II development at Ajanta Ellora.  The scope of work for this Phase includes Monument/Heritage conservation, Infrastructure Development and Tourist Development. 

9.          In 2005, a loan agreement for the Development of Buddhist Circuit in Uttar Pradesh was also signed with JBIC..  This project will include improving infrastructure at Buddhist sites at Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Sravasti and Sankisa.

10.   In order to promote India as a tourist destination in Japan India tourism office in Tokyo has been printing literature and publicity material in local languages and has been working closely with Japanese tour operators and travel agents to familiarize them about the country’s tourism products. 

11.   To promote the Buddhist Circuit, Ministry of Tourism organized an International Conclave on Buddhism and Spiritual tourism, at New Delhi on 17-18 February 2004.  This was followed by a dedication ceremony of the holiest site in Buddhism, the Mahabodhi Temple which has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at Bodhgaya on 19^th Feb. 2004. The main objective of the conclave was to highlight every aspect of Buddhism.

12.   Ministry of Tourism organized a seminar on Indo-Japan Travel and Tourism on December6, 2005 at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi during the visit of Study Mission led by Special Advisor to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Japan. This study visit was organized to follow up the Joint Statement made during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to India in April 2005 and was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador and members of the India travel trade. It provided an opportunity for the Japanese delegation to interact with Indian tour operators and their Indian counterparts.

13.   During the visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to Japan in December 2006 a Joint Statement regarding ‘Promotion of India –Japan Tourism Exchange’ was signed between India and Japan.

14. Ministry of Tourism is participating in the JATA World Travel Fair being held           in Tokyo in September 2007. Besides this, Ministry of Tourism will be      organizing a road show and seminar in collaboration with FICCI on the        sidelines of the JATA World travel Fair to showcase India’s tourism products          to the tour operators from Japan. Participation by State Governments and           Travel Trade is also being organized during the event to ensure all round     focus on India’s tourism sector at the event.

AD

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