Encouraging Asean Travelers to Discover Indian Coastlines is India's Appeal

In Bangkok on Thursday, Paulomi Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, highlighted the importance of promoting travel exchanges between India and ASEAN member states. This emphasis comes as India and ASEAN launch a dialogue to expand maritime connectivity across the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on sustainable tourism.

The "India-Asean Tourism Roadshow," organised by the Indian Embassy and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, served as a platform to discuss this initiative. Ms Tripathi expressed her expectations for increased tourism flows from India in 2025, supported by enhanced connectivity, marketing, and business engagement.

Last year, ASEAN nations collectively contributed 662,605 visitor arrivals to India, while more than 4.14 million Indians travelled to ASEAN countries. Thailand, in particular, welcomed around 2.12 million Indian tourists in 2024, making Indians the third-largest group of arrivals after Chinese and Malaysian travelers.

India has pledged US$5 million (162 million baht) to the Asean-India Tourism Fund to support joint initiatives under the 2023-2027 work plan. This fund will aid in the development of tailored programs for ASEAN tour operators, cultural exchanges, and hospitality training.

Ms Tripathi stated that India aims to reverse the imbalance in tourist arrivals between India and ASEAN countries. To achieve this, she emphasised the importance of sustainable tourism, referencing both ASEAN's Action Roadmap and India's Goa Roadmap.

Cruise tourism has been identified as a priority for India and ASEAN. As part of this focus, India participated in the Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart 2025, held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from Tuesday to Thursday.

2025 has been designated as the "India-Asean Tourism Year," a testament to the growing commitment of both parties to strengthen their relations through tourism. With these initiatives in place, it appears that the future holds promising prospects for increased cultural exchange and mutual understanding between India and ASEAN nations.