Question : MoU on Tourism Cooperation

(a) whether India and Australia have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism cooperation;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the salient features of the said MoU;
(c) whether the outcome of previously signed MoU on Tourism sector was assessed by both the countries;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which modifications with regard to previous MoU have been incorporated in the present MoU;
(e) the number of Australian tourists who visited India during the period of previous MoU and the extent to which the number of tourists is likely to increased during the current MoU period; and
(f) the extent to which tourism between India and Australia has been affected during Covid-19 pandemic period?

MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The MoU in the field of tourism cooperation between India and Australia was renewed on 11.02.2022. The main objectives of the MoU include the following:

i. Expansion of bilateral cooperation on tourism policy and facilitation;
ii. Exchange of information and data related to tourism;
iii. Cooperation between tourism stakeholders, particularly hotels and tour operators;
iv. Cooperation and exchanges between training and education providers in tourism and hospitality;
v. Investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors;
vi. Visits of tour operators and wholesalers, media and opinion makers;
vii. High quality, safe, ethical and sustainable tourism development;
viii. Interest in major cultural, artistic and sporting events;
ix. Opportunities for traveller education on applicable laws, rules and instructions in each other’s country; and
x. Enhanced tourism engagement in multilateral fora.

(c) to (f): The previous MoU for tourism cooperation between India and Australia was signed on 18th November 2014. The MoU was valid for 5 years. Under the framework of the MoU, meetings of Joint Working Group were organised in India and Australia. The JWG meetings which also included travel trade from both sides discussed various tourism related issues. In addition to the existing objectives in the previous MoU, the renewed MoU also includes tourism cooperation through cultural and sporting events, engagement in multilateral fora etc.

The number of tourist arrival from Australia to India during 2015 till 2020 (including Covid pandemic period) is as follows:–

2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
263101	293625	324243	346486	367241	86758