India and Italy have agreed to strengthen their tourism ties through formal institutional structures. The 2nd India–Italy Joint Working Group on Tourism met on 29 September 2026 to chart new areas of collaboration between the two countries, with both sides committing to establish focused technical groups and designated points of contact to drive these initiatives forward.
The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Ms. Emanuela Tripi, Secretary-General of Italy’s Ministry of Tourism. The Indian delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy of India in Rome and the Indian Association of Tour Operators. The Italian side brought officials from its Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, its New Delhi embassy and ENIT, the Italian National Tourism Board.
Key facts
- 2nd India–Italy Joint Working Group on Tourism held on 29 September 2026
- Co-chaired by Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar (India’s Ministry of Tourism Secretary) and Ms. Emanuela Tripi (Italy’s Tourism Ministry Secretary-General)
- Both countries agreed to establish focused technical groups and points of contact
- Discussion areas include exchange of tourism data, promotion of lesser-known destinations, cine-tourism, destination twinning, skilling and capacity building, and B2B engagement
- India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism planned for 2027
Areas of cooperation identified
The two countries identified several concrete areas where they will collaborate going forward. Exchange of tourism data will help both nations understand visitor flows and market trends more effectively. Promotion of lesser-known destinations aims to move tourism beyond major cities and heritage sites to smaller regions that could benefit from visitor interest. This approach recognises that both countries have significant tourism potential beyond their most famous attractions.
Cine-tourism is another focus area. This involves encouraging visitors to travel to locations featured in films and television productions, leveraging the strong film industries in both countries. Both India and Italy produce cinema that reaches global audiences, and using these films as a draw for tourism can be mutually beneficial.
Destination twinning involves formal partnerships between specific cities or regions in each country, allowing them to share best practices, jointly market themselves, and facilitate cultural and tourism exchanges. Skilling and capacity building will focus on training tourism professionals in both nations to meet international standards and improve the quality of visitor experiences.
Strengthening industry participation
The agreement emphasises enhanced Business-to-Business engagement between tour operators, hotels, transport providers and other tourism-related businesses in both countries. By facilitating direct connections between Indian and Italian tourism industries, the two nations aim to increase partnerships, joint ventures and cross-promotion of services. This direct industry involvement is expected to translate policy discussions into concrete commercial opportunities.
Technical groups and sustained engagement
A key outcome of the meeting is the establishment of focused technical groups with designated points of contact in each country. These structures provide a formal mechanism for ongoing dialogue and coordination. Rather than relying on periodic high-level meetings alone, the technical groups will maintain regular engagement on specific issues, track progress on agreed initiatives and resolve implementation challenges.
Link to India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism 2027
The two countries discussed how their tourism cooperation fits into the broader proposed India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism 2027. This special year is intended to deepen cultural exchanges and tourism engagement between the nations through a coordinated calendar of events, exhibitions, cultural performances and tourism promotion activities across both countries.
What this means for you
Indian tourists and tourism businesses can expect improved travel experiences to Italy through enhanced industry coordination and possibly joint promotions. Italian visitors to India may benefit from better organised tourism offerings and promotion of lesser-known Indian destinations. Tourism professionals in both countries have opportunities for skill development and international engagement. Tour operators may find new commercial partnerships emerging from the formalised B2B framework.
What happens next
The technical groups will now begin work on the identified cooperation areas. Both countries are preparing for the India–Italy Year of Culture and Tourism in 2027, which will likely feature special tourism promotions and cultural exchange programmes.