The Ministry of Tourism, Andhra Pradesh and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), recently singed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote tourism in Andhra Pradesh. The MoU envisages development of interstate packages to promote Andhra Pradesh as an important tourism destination. The MoU was signed by Chandana Khan, Special Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Lalit K Panwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC, in the presence of Union Tourism Secretary, R H Khwaja. Also present at the occasion were Rajat Kumar, Tourism Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), Gautam Sen Gupta, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India and Sumeet Singh, Chief General Manager, APTDC.
As per the MoU, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism will take help from ITDC in designing packages, organising global events and creating a force of skilled and semi skilled manpower to support tourism growth in the state. “The objective of the MoU is to mutually promote each other’s products,” Khan said after signing the MoU.
Panwar further added that this was the first MoU that ITDC signed with any state to promote tourism. He further informed that ITDC will take care of air travel components of the packages and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism will facilitate accommodation, transport and other facilities for tourists. According to Panwar, ITDC will also extend its help in implementing Union Tourism Ministry’s programmes like Hunar se Rozgar and Clean India campaign in the state. “We are also exploring the feasibility of introducing light and sound show at many heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh,” Panwar informed. Speaking on the occasion, Khwaja urged Andhra Pradesh Tourism to promote Buddhist tourism in a major way as the state had a rich Buddhist heritage.
