India and Italy Agree to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation in Tourism; Technical Groups to be Formed

India and Italy have expressed their agreement to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. This decision was reached during the second India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting held on September 29, 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Bhuvesh Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Ms. Emanuela Tripi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism of Italy.

During the meeting, both countries discussed several key points to increase tourism cooperation. These included the exchange of tourism data, promotion of lesser-known tourist destinations, film tourism, twinning of tourism destinations, skill development, capacity building, and the enhancement of business-to-business (B2B) engagement.

To implement this cooperation effectively, both parties have agreed to constitute targeted technical groups to work in the identified areas and to designate specific contact points. This initiative is intended to facilitate continuous dialogue and engagement among the relevant stakeholders.

Additionally, the meeting involved discussions on tourism cooperation opportunities in the context of the proposed 'India-Italy Culture and Tourism Year 2027', which aims to further strengthen cultural and tourism exchanges between the two nations.

Representing the Indian side at the meeting were officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Rome, and the Indian Tour Operators Association (IATO). The Italian delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi, and ENIT (Italian National Tourist Board).