Japan is continuing its interest and involvement in the Indian tourism field and expects to fund more projects to boost the infrastructure, especially in the Buddhist circuit.

In the past, the country did a lot in the popular Bodhgaya region, and later in Ajanta Ellora where the caves and art are a major draw.

Katsuo Matsumoto, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), told this correspondent in New Delhi on March 15 that Jharkhand state may be the next area where Japan could help in development. He said details were being waited on from the State.

The JICA chief spoke at the seminar on “India-Japan Partnership for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” organized by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and the Embassy of Japan, where topics like health, sanitation, and drinking water were discussed by Indian and Japanese experts.

India PM Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shinzo Abe

Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, told this correspondent that the prospects of tourism between the two countries were very good.

Japan has set up a full tourism office in India and several organizations are working on enhanced cooperation. The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will help matters, as well as the fact that there are scores of Japanese companies operating in India.

Several popular Japanese restaurants in Delhi and other cities have increased awareness of the country, and in Japan, the number of restaurants serving India cuisine is also increasing. There are many joint ventures between the two countries which boosts travel, with connectivity being improved in recent years.