<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD JATS (Z39.96) Journal Publishing DTD v1.2d1 20170631//EN" "JATS-journalpublishing1.dtd"> <ArticleSet> <Article> <Journal> <PublisherName>ejsss</PublisherName> <JournalTitle>ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES</JournalTitle> <PISSN/> <EISSN/> <Volume-Issue>Volume 6 Issue 1</Volume-Issue> <PartNumber/> <IssueTopic>Multidisciplinary</IssueTopic> <IssueLanguage>English</IssueLanguage> <Season>Apr-May 2025</Season> <SpecialIssue>N</SpecialIssue> <SupplementaryIssue>N</SupplementaryIssue> <IssueOA>Y</IssueOA> <PubDate> <Year>2025</Year> <Month>05</Month> <Day>31</Day> </PubDate> <ArticleType>International Relations</ArticleType> <ArticleTitle>India’s Soft Power Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: A Study of Tourism Engagement and Strategic Connectivity</ArticleTitle> <SubTitle/> <ArticleLanguage>English</ArticleLanguage> <ArticleOA>Y</ArticleOA> <FirstPage>90</FirstPage> <LastPage>104</LastPage> <AuthorList> <Author> <FirstName>Parsuram</FirstName> <LastName>Sahoo</LastName> <AuthorLanguage>English</AuthorLanguage> <Affiliation/> <CorrespondingAuthor>N</CorrespondingAuthor> <ORCID/> </Author> </AuthorList> <DOI>10.47362/EJSSS.2025.6105 </DOI> <Abstract>This article examines India’s Soft Power diplomacy towards the region of Southeast Asia (SEA). India has historically relied on its non-aligned foreign policy, dynamic democracy and rich culture as the cornerstones of its soft power. India views SEA, in particular, as a crucial location from which it receives its soft power, which is derived from a common culture that has been developed over more than two thousand years. This paper investigates the ways in which these cultures prepared the ground for India__ampersandsign#39;s growing influence in the region of SEA through tourism engagement. India__ampersandsign#39;s tourism engagement emerges as a critical tool for increasing India__ampersandsign#39;s influence in SEA. Tourism enhances confidence in India and its connection with ASEAN, and both parties are taking steps to grow the tourism industry. This paper also highlights the importance of connectivity projects and infrastructural development. The foundation for the sustainable growth of a nation__ampersandsign#39;s tourism industry is its infrastructure, a reason why India is constantly working to improve this area. India is organising events and marketing campaigns to ensure that more tourists are drawn from the SEA region. Although India has impacted ASEAN nations for the past two millennia, the government is currently taking steps to improve ties between the two regions. This study implements a qualitative research approach, incorporating secondary data analysis, content analysis and case studies to investigate India__ampersandsign#39;s tourism engagement and strategic connectivity.</Abstract> <AbstractLanguage>English</AbstractLanguage> <Keywords>Culture, India, Infrastructural Development, Soft Power, Southeast Asia, Strategic Connectivity, Tourism Engagement</Keywords> <URLs> <Abstract>https://ejsss.net.in/ubijournal-v1copy/journals/abstract.php?article_id=15741&title=India’s Soft Power Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: A Study of Tourism Engagement and Strategic Connectivity</Abstract> </URLs> <References> <ReferencesarticleTitle>References</ReferencesarticleTitle> <ReferencesfirstPage>16</ReferencesfirstPage> <ReferenceslastPage>19</ReferenceslastPage> <References>ASEAN Framework Agreement on visa exemption. (2004). ASEAN Main Portal. 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