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Mumbai, July 11, 2013: Andhra Pradesh tourism is keen on attracting tourists from across Maharashtra to explore various destinations in the state. Smt. Chandana Khan, Special Chief Secretary to the Andhra Pradesh government’s Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture department was in the city as a part of a high-level delegation to meet journalists and spread the word about Andhra Pradesh’s many tourist offerings.
In an effort to woo local tourists to the new and unexplored tourist destinations, Andhra Pradesh tourism is actively reaching out to tourists and travel agents from all over India. “Hyderabad and Mumbai are like sister cities. There is so much is common in terms of heritage, culture, cuisine, history and even shopping. Even a business trip to Hyderabad can be expanded to include a lot more, “said Ms. Khan. At the same time she also stressed on the fact that Hyderabad is the best MICE destination in India with the HITEC Convention Centre that has the capacity to accommodate 8,000 people. Events like the UNWTO and the Biodiversity Conference that was held last year are testimony to the city’s capacity for hosting big events.
Andhra Pradesh boasts of the highest number of domestic tourist arrivals, a fact that Smt. Khan says that she would like to attribute to the blessings of Lord Balaji at Tirupati. The APTDC is also developing a Tirupati Convention Centre at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. The hotel next to this is already ready.
While talking about heritage, Ms. Khan threw light on the ‘Best Heritage City’ Award that was conferred on Warangal, the erstwhile dynasty of the Kakatiyas. “There are also several off-the-beaten-track holiday options that one can explore. Right from beaches to historical structures and even spots on the Buddhist circuits, Andhra Pradesh is a whole world of new opportunities. Beaches are something that hasn’t been explored in Andhra Pradesh we have a coastline of almost 1,000 km and Vizag has some of the best beaches in the south. No two beaches are alike, come and experience the coastal magic in our state,” she said. Smt. Khan also spoke about the various affordable accommodation options, water sports and beach resorts that APTDC is coming up with.
During the press meet Smt. Khan also spoke about the investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. “We are inviting investments in tourism projects through the PPP model and Mumbai being the financial hub of India, we would like to see some movement from here,” she added.
“Another common thing that links both the state is the interest in films. While Mumbai is the Bollywood hub, Hyderabad is known for Tollywood. In addition, several Hindi movies are often shot at Ramoji Film City near Hyderabad. Promoting and showcasing unknown destinations in Andhra Pradesh will give filmmakers a chance to explore new locations,” she said. Apart from this, in a move to attract more tourists to the state, the APTDC is also planning to promote Tirupati packages and organize events that capture the essence of Navratri, this will ensure that visitors don’t lose out on festive celebrations. The joint tourism promotion initiatives announced by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh a few weeks earlier will also help to further boost the cause.
Among the special destinations and extremely-scenic locations high on APTDC’s list are: Dindi, Horsley Hills, Bhavani Island, Suryalanka, Vikarabad, Nagarjuna Sagar and Bhadrachalam.