The Hindu Business Line : AP Tourism on hard-sell drive

AFTER consolidating its brand, Andhra Pradesh Tourism is going for a high-pitched promotional campaign, which includes converting Kuchipudi into an international tourist attraction and to sell the tourism potential to national and global tourists.

As part of the plan, the Tourism Department is going to make its Web site a gateway for tourists coming from outside.

"We are going to provide links to a host of service providers, which included hospitality players and travel agents," Mr Arja Srikanth, Director (Cultural Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh), said.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said a core committee under the chairmanship of Ms Chandana Khan, Principal Secretary (Tourism and Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh), had been set up to look into the details of the proposed project. "This will be operational in two months," he said.

Ms B.V. Sivanaga Kumari, Additional Chief (Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture Department), said the department had pepped up promotional campaign to highlight at least 15 prominent places in the State.

"We have signed a memorandum of understanding with SITA. Under the agreement, SITA would promote Andhra Pradesh globally as a tourist destination. Besides, they also look at operating charters to the State," she said.

The Government also signed a pact with Concord Travels of Dubai. "Concord, the agents for TCI in Dubai, would promote Andhra Pradesh in Dubai and United Arab Emirates," she said.

These agreements would help promote State-specific tourism packages on leading airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, Indian Airlines and Srilankan Airlines.

Ms Chandana Khan said the department had lined up a calendar of events spread across the State.

"The calendar comprise International Kite Festival in January (Hyderabad), Golconda Festival in February (Hyderabad) and Visakha Beach Festival in December," she said.

"This will be an annual feature from now onwards," she said.

The Government proposed to make Kuchipudi, the birthplace of the famous classical dance with the same name, an international tourist destination, a la Khujaraho and Konark.

"We will promote the art form making Vijayawada as a hub," she said.

The Department has also taken up audio-visual documentation of nearly 70 folk forms. "On completion, these programmes will be aired on TV channels and used for promotion of tourism," she said.

In order to introduce the dance and music forms of the State to the youth, the Department has opened 400 learning centres across the State to train over 15,000 students. "The 40-day Kala Parichayam is an appreciation course," Ms Chandana Khan said.

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