Union Tourism Minister of India, Subodh Kant Sahai inaugurated Sapporo Snow Festival at Sapporo, Japan yesterday to mark the 60th year of India Japan diplomatic relations. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that Ice replica of Taj Mahal displayed at the festival will definitely help in attracting large number of visitors to India not only from Japan but also from neighbouring countries.

He said Japan is an important source market for Indian Tourism with tremendous in bound tourism potential. Shri Sahai said as per records of the Tourism Ministry, India received more than 1,65,000 tourists from Japan during 2011. The Ministry of Tourism has set up an Incredible India booth at the festival.

The Tourism Minister is on a four-day visit to Japan. During his stay, the Minister will hold meetings with the representatives of Japanese Tourism Department and Tour and Travel Trade. The Minister will also host an India evening at the festival which will be attended by guests from Japanese Tourism and Travel Trade, media, opinion makers and stake-holders. During his stay at Tokyo, Shri Sahai will hold discussions with the senior officials of Japanese Tourism and representatives of travel trade. 

The Sapporo Snow festival, one of Japan’s largest winter events attracts a large number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. The festival began in 1950. During the weak long festival the statues and sculptures built of ice turns Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal like – ice and white snow