India and Italy agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism

Key Highlights:

• The 2nd India–Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Tourism was held on September 29, 2026.
• The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretaries of Tourism Ministries from both India and Italy.
• Discussions focused on strengthening tourism cooperation across areas like cine-tourism, destination twinning, and skill development.
• Both nations agreed to establish focused technical groups and designate points of contact for sustained engagement.
• Opportunities for tourism cooperation were also discussed in the context of the proposed India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism 2027.

Detailed Insights:

• The meeting aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation in tourism and foster stronger institutional and industry linkages between the two countries.
• The Indian delegation included representatives from the Ministries of Tourism, Culture, External Affairs, and the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).
• The Italian delegation comprised officials from their Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Affairs, and ENIT (Italian National Tourism Board).
• Other areas of cooperation included the exchange of tourism data, promotion of lesser-known destinations, and enhanced Business-to-Business (B2B) engagement.
• The establishment of technical groups will facilitate the implementation of identified cooperation areas and ensure continuous progress.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Joint Working Group (JWG): A formal bilateral mechanism for two countries to discuss and advance cooperation in specific sectors.
• Cine-tourism: Promoting tourism to locations featured in films or offering film-related experiences.
• Destination Twinning: A partnership between two destinations to promote mutual tourism and cultural exchange.