In a significant step towards enhancing tourism ties between India and Okinawa, Japan, the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) and the Okinawa-India Friendship Association (OIFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote bilateral travel and cooperation. The signing ceremony was held at Le Meridien, Delhi, marking a pivotal moment in fostering travel exchange and mutual tourism growth.
The MOU was formally signed by Shravan Bhalla, Vice President, OTOAI, and Moritake Tomikawa, Chairman, OIFA. The event witnessed the presence of a distinguished delegation from Okinawa, including Yoshimi Nagahama, Mayor of Onna Municipality (Okinawa Onna Village), Rumiko Miyazaki from the Onna Village Tourism Association, and Mayumi Yamashiro from Kinki Nippon Tourist Okinawa.
Representing OTOAI were Siddharth Khanna, General Secretary, Monia Kapoor, Joint Secretary, and Vineet Gopal, Executive Board Member, all of whom underscored the significance of this collaboration in boosting tourism opportunities. The event was coordinated by Sanjeev Bhandari from United Travels Service International, New Delhi.
The MOU outlines key areas of cooperation, including the exchange of tourism information, data sharing, promotional support, and initiatives to ease travel barriers between India and Okinawa. By fostering greater connectivity and awareness, both organizations aim to expand travel possibilities and enhance tourism-related business opportunities between the two regions.
