India and Italy agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism

The 2nd India–Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Tourism was held on 29 September 2026, co-chaired by Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Ms. Emanuela Tripi, Secretary-General, Ministry of Tourism, Italy.

Event Details
- Held on 29 September 2026 in New Delhi.
- Co-chaired by Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar (India) and Ms. Emanuela Tripi (Italy).

Participants
- Indian side: Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, Embassy of India in Rome, IATO.
- Italian side: Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of Italy in New Delhi, ENIT (Italian National Tourism Board).

Key Areas of Discussion
- Exchange of tourism data.
- Promotion of lesser-known destinations.
- Cine-tourism (film-linked travel).
- Destination twinning (pairing Indian & Italian destinations).
- Skilling and capacity building.
- Enhanced B2B engagement between tourism industries.

Outcomes
- Agreement to establish focused technical groups.
- Designation of points of contact for sustained cooperation.

Future Collaboration
- Opportunities linked to the proposed India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism 2027.
- Aim to deepen cultural and tourism exchanges.

Significance
- Reaffirms commitment to bilateral tourism cooperation.
- Strengthens institutional and industry linkages between India and Italy.

This meeting sets the stage for structured collaboration in tourism, blending cultural exchange with industry-driven initiatives.