Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) expects bookings and revenues from West Bengal to double this year.

According to Chandana Khan, Special Chief Secretary and CMD, APTDC, Bengalis and Gujaratis contributed to a bulk of the over 15 crore domestic tourists to Andhra Pradesh in 2012. Tirupati – the abode of Lord Balaji – draws over a third of the total number of tourists visiting the State.

Special Packages

The corporation has rolled out Durga Puja/Dussera packages highlighting some of its “yet unexplored” destinations in the coastal areas of Srikakulam and Nellore among others.

“Bengalis traditionally travel to Vizag, Araku, Dindi and up to the East Godavari. We are now promoting beach resorts in Srikakulam and Nellore among others. This, we expect, will be a big draw,” Khan said here on Friday.

APTDC’s revenues from Kolkata more than doubled to Rs 15 lakh in June 2013, as compared to Rs 6 lakh in June 2012.

The corporation will open up two beach resorts in Srikakulam by September this year. It also plans to promote Nellore as an eco-tourism destination.

APTDC is also planning to organise Durga Puja in six cities to attract the Bengali populace during the festive season.

“Last year, at the instance of travel agents, we had organised Durga Pujas in Vizag, Arakku, Dindi, Vijaywada and Suryalanka so that Bengali tourists visiting the State during that time were able to offer prayers and enjoy the festive mood even when not at home,” she said.

The tourism department will organise Durga Puja at Hyderabad too this year.

“We will get the idols, priests and dhakis (drummers) from Bengal to give it an authentic feel,” she said.

Investment

APTDC is looking to attract an investment of Rs 1,000 crore through the public-private-partnership (PPP) for developing world class infrastructure at Vizag and Hyderabad. The Centre has already sanctioned over Rs 200 crore for tourism development in AP, Khan said.

Plans are afoot to set up an aquarium, theme park, health city and science city at Vizag. “We want to focus on Vizag and Hyderabad in a big way. We have already advertised for the projects globally,” she said.

shobha.roy@thehindu.co.in

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