APTDC Vizag Q1 revenues up 32%

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Limited (APTDC), Visakhapatnam division, registered 32 per cent growth in revenues at Rs 2.65 crore during the first quarter of the current financial year as compared with Rs 2.01 crore in the corresponding period last year.

The division has operations in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

"We want to maintain the same growth rate for the rest of the year," P Jeevan Prasad, divisional manager, APTDC, Visakhapatnam division, said.

The occupancy rates of hotels and cottages in this quarter too increased by 60 per cent as compared with 52 per cent in the first quarter of the last year. Tourist arrivals to Borra caves was up by 16 per cent at 90,759 as against about 78,224 tourists during the last fiscal of the first quarter, he said.

About 3.13 lakh tourists visited the Borra caves during the last fiscal, and in the current year, the corporation is expecting this number between 3.5 lakh and 3.75 lakh.

For the year 2005-06, the division's revenue was up to Rs 9.37 crore as against Rs 7.44 crore in the preceding year. Prasad said they were eyeing a revenue of Rs 11.60 crore in the current year.

APTDC, which has 170 rooms and cottages in Vizag district, is adding another 108 rooms and cottages at Araku, Ananthagiri and Rushikonda tourist areas with an investment of about Rs 11 crore. Most of these new rooms will be ready for occupation by Dassara, he said.