India, Asean sign tourism pact

Union tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai yesterday said with the rising tourist arrivals between Asean and India having shown steady growth, the establishment of ASEAN Promotional Chapter in  Mumbai, would act as a tourism marketing and promotion agency of Asean National Tourism Organisation.

Speaking after the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Manado in Indonesia, during the third meeting of the ASEAN-India tourism ministers, Sahai said that the MoU between  India and Asean would boost the travel and tourism  partnership between Asean nations and India.  

Expressing satisfaction at the progress in the implementation of the work plan for the development of Asean -India cooperation in Buddhist pilgrimage tourism including the production and promotion of Buddhist pilgrimage in Asean-India, Sahai said the Indian government would be looking for such more joint-promotions.

He also welcomed the forthcoming Asean-India car rally to be held this year, as it would mark another "meaningful step towards tourism cooperation" and at the same time reflect the existence of  land connectivity that would facilitate tourism exchange between ASEAN and India.

The  meet was jointly chaired by Sahai and Indonesia's minister of tourism and creative economy Dr Mari Elka Pangestu.