AP foreign tourist arrivals zoom 128% in 2003

Andhra Pradesh seems to be finally on the radar of the international tourist with foreign tourist arrivals in the state recording a massive 128 per cent growth in the calendar year 2003.

Foreign tourists numbering 4,79,318 visited the state in 2003, as compared to 2,10,310 in 2002. The significant growth in foreign tourist arrivals was due to the Godavari Pushkarams held in August 2003. The Pushkarams attracted around two lakh international tourists.

Domestic tourist arrivals rose by 17 per cent to 7.41 crore in 2003 from 6.33 crore in the year before. The total tourist arrivals were up 17.4 per cent at 7.45 crore in 2003 from 6.35 crore in 2002.

According to the statistics compiled by the Tourism Department of Andhra Pradesh, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad attracted the highest number of foreign tourists (1,76,675), followed by Visakhapatnam (79,159) and Vizianagaram (58,671).

With respect to domestic tourist arrivals, Chittoor district topped the list with 95.4 lakh, followed by West Godavari district (72.2 lakh) and Karimnagar (six lakh) districts.

The tourism department has been focussing, of late, on positioning Hyderabad as the 'convention capital of India'. Hyderabad has been rated as the ninth best city for tourism by CII in 2001 and the best city by the ministry of tourism in 2002. Hyderabad made a successful transition to be a MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) destination in 2003.

The conduct of the National Games in 2002 and the Afro-Asian Games in October 2003, apart from the World Billiards Championship and International Children's Festival, in the city has helped Hyderabad vie for a place among top MICE destinations in the country, tourism industry observers believe.

On the infrastructure front alone, Hyderabad has been consecutively winning the 'Clean & Green City' award for the past four years.

The recognition for Hyderabad and the resultant contribution to its economy was reflected in the growth of occupancy levels in hotels in the state, particularly in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

There are around 5,000 rooms in Andhra Pradesh in three three-star and above segments. The twin cities account for a total of 3,000 rooms including 1,200 in the five-star segment. Visakhapatnam accounts for 1,000 rooms.

In the five-star segment, the average occupancy rate in 2003 was over 75 per cent, whereas the rate peaked to a record level of 85 per cent for three-star hotels.

The average revenue per room (ARR) went up by 20 per cent to Rs 4,500 for deluxe category in five-star, Rs 4,000 for other five-star hotels and Rs 3,500 for three and four star segments.

The growth can be gauged from the example of the Taj group of hotels whose average ARR three years ago was hovering around Rs 1,500-Rs 1,600.