Hon’ble Prime Minister of India has declared the year 2025 the “ASEAN–India Year of Tourism” and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening its cultural, economic, and tourism partnerships with the ASEAN countries. This visionary announcement underscores the importance of tourism in building people-to-people connectivity, enhancing mutual prosperity, and deepening ties of friendship.

With this initiative to foster ties with the ASEAN countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, has entrusted the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) with organising India’s participation in the prestigious international tourism event, the International Tourism Expo (ITE) Vietnam 2025, scheduled to be held from 4th to 6th September 2025 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

As the beginning of this relationship between India and ASEAN nations, and towards celebrating 2025 as the ASEAN–India Year of Tourism, IRCTC, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs, led a strong delegation of tourism stakeholders from India and ASEAN nations at PATA Travel Mart 2025, Bangkok, marking a new chapter in cross-cultural and tourism collaboration between India and ASEAN countries. The Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Sh. Nagesh Singh, inaugurated the vibrant ASEAN–India Pavilion, adding impetus and relevance to the initiative of IRCTC and MEA promoting Indo–ASEAN cross-cultural and tourism ties. Besides, IRCTC also organised a roadshow in Thailand on 28th August 2025, which was attended by delegates from the travel and tourism industry and was a grand success.

IRCTC is now setting up an exclusive ASEAN–India Pavilion, which will showcase the diverse tourism offerings of India to a global audience. The pavilion will showcase India’s rich cultural heritage, spiritual and wellness experiences, natural landscapes, adventure opportunities, and luxury travel products such as IRCTC’s world-class luxury trains — the Maharajas’ Express, the Golden Chariot, and the Buddhist Circuit Deluxe AC Tourist Trains — as well as the tourism landscape and offerings of ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN–India Pavilion in Ho Chi Minh City was inaugurated by Sh. Vipra Pandey, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, reflecting the significance of the event.

The Indian delegation, represented by IRCTC, will comprise leading tourism GSAs, state tourism board officials, along with delegates from ASEAN countries representing both the tourism trade and policy-formulation organisations. This joint participation of Indo–ASEAN countries symbolises the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ASEAN–India tourism cooperation and shared growth.

Besides setting up the ASEAN–India Pavilion, IRCTC will also handle the entire logistics of the delegation. IRCTC is also organising the ASEAN–India Tourism Roadshow in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where various Indo–ASEAN tourism products will be showcased to an audience comprising travel and tourism trade bodies and other industry players. The roadshow will serve as an opportune platform for the delegation to interact directly with leading local travel agents and tour operators, fostering new trade collaborations and strengthening business ties.

The declaration of 2025 as the ASEAN–India Year of Tourism by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India is an opportunity to project India as a major global tourism hub for diverse customer segments.

The ASEAN–India Pavilion at ITE Ho Chi Minh City has opened up new avenues for the promotion of culture and tourism among India and the ASEAN nations.

This ASEAN–India initiative has played a catalytic role in laying the foundation for future growth and prosperity for both India and the ASEAN countries, promoting tourism, regional connectivity, and business, and cementing bonds of mutual trust and friendship.