India seeks Japanese investment in tourism infrastructure

India sought Japanese investment in tourism related infrastructure such as hotels and resorts, convention centres, amusement parks, cruise, and ayurveda and wellness centres.

Addressing the India-Japan Tourism Meet, Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary Suman Billa said, "I urge Japan to invest in India in tourism infrastructure. It offers a huge opportunity like that in the Buddhist circuit." India offers a huge investment opportunity in tourism segments such as hotel and resorts, convention centres, amusement parks, sound and light show, adventure tourism, cruise and ayurveda and wellness centres, he said.

Billa stressed on the "need to work" together to increase tourism flow by five times from the current level. Currently, nearly two lakh Japanese tourists come to India, while around 80,000 Indians visit Japan every year.

Stating that a meagre number of tourists arrive in India on Buddhism tourism, he said there is need to exploit the huge opportunities that lie in the segment.

India is striving to make travel to various destinations a "magnificent experience" for Japanese tourists with Buddhist pilgrimage, convention and business tourism, golf tourism, ayurveda, heritage and culture and adventure tourism, he said.

Considering the potential the tourism sector holds between India and Japan, FICCI in partnership with Embassy of Japan is organising the two-day event here.