APTDC Vijayawada gears up to attract more tourists this fiscal

The Vijayawada division of Andhra Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation (APTDC), covering Krishna, West Godavari, Guntur and Prakasam districts, earned a net income of Rs 1.85 crore during 2003-04 as against a target of Rs 2 crore.

The division, which has set for itself a target of Rs 3 crore revenue for 2004-05 and devised ways to attract over 24,000 tourists, has attracted around 12,000 tourists during 2003-04.

The ensuing Krishna Pushkaram, a 12-day festival that falls once in twelve years, is expected to bring in additional tourists and revenue for the division.

Gearing up for the forthcoming Krishna Pushkaram and in a bid to attract more tourists, the corporation has been developing Suryalanka near Bapatla in Guntur and the Manginapudi near Machilipatnam in Krishna district as beautiful beach resorts.

The construction of 12 sea-facing cottages taken up by APTDC at a cost of Rs 30 lakh each and the construction of a modern restaurant at these beaches are nearing completion.

The corporation, under its boat-riding and water sports programme, is also planning to introduce fully air-conditioned Bodhisiri boats. Priced at Rs 1 crore, each boat can accommodate 150 passengers and house facilities including a restaurant and intercom facilities.

Speaking to Business Standard, S Suryaprakasa Rao, divisional manager of APTDC, said that the corporation had adopted a five-pronged approach "" accommodation and catering, tours in hi-tech coaches, boat-riding and water sports, and beach and eco-tourism "" to attract more tourists.

"Bhavani Islands in Krishna river at Vijayawada, Ethipothala waterfalls, Amaravathi and Nagarjunakonda in Guntur, and Kolleru Lake and Dwarka Tirumala in West Godavari have been specially developed as the main tourist centres," he said.

APTDC runs Punnami-Berm Park, a 22 double room air-conditioned hotel, with three-star facilities profitably in Vijayawada. The hotel earns Rs 10 lakh a month. There are big water reservoirs in Vijayawada and at Kovur and Pedamallam in West Godavari and Nagarjunasagar in Guntur.

Luxury and pleasure riding services are made available for adventurous tourists. Four types of boats are pressed into their service "" Vijayasiri cruise, Krishnaveni, deluxe boat and speed boat. These boats fetch Rs 3 lakh income a month for the division.

Five APTDC hi-tech coaches take tourists from Vijayawada to all the important shrines and tourist spots in the state and in south India. The 14-day south India tour offers free accommodation. Domestic and local tours are also conducted by the APTDC Vijayawada division.

The Vijayawada division of APTDC is yet to identify places of tourist importance and attraction in the Prakasam district.

"APTDC bagged the fourth place among 16 state tourist corporations during the Godavari Pushkaram. We are set to organise cultural programmes, a tourism exhibition and a host of other activities to improve its position during the Krishna Pushkaram" said Suryaprakasa Rao.