Vizag tourist arrivals pick up

During the current year, tourists' arrivals to Visakhapatnam, Borra Caves and Araku have increased by 36 per cent.

With this there is a rise in revenue for Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

During the first six months of the current fiscal, 1.16 lakh tourists visited Borra Caves, as against 85,000 tourists in the corresponding period last fiscal.

The corporation's Visakhapatnam division is now aiming at 50 per cent growth in revenue earnings during the current fiscal. It has already achieved 57 per cent growth during the first half of the current fiscal.

"During the first six months of the current year, the corporation's revenue touched Rs 248 lakhs as against Rs 157.45 lakhs during the last fiscal's corresponding period, registering 57 per cent growth. During this year our revenue will reach Rs 6.5 crores as against Rs 4.30 crores during the last fiscal," PGS Sai, the divisional manager of APTDC, told Business Standard.

"Recently, the corporation has introduced our host scheme and paying guest accommodation. We are getting good response from tourists for these schemes," he informed.

In order to provide more amenities to the tourists and to develop new tourist spots, the corporation is spending Rs 4 crores during this year.

"We are constructing conference hall and restaurants at Rushikonda tourist area with an investment of Rs.2.5 crores, with 20 cottages we are developing new hill resort at Ananthagiri hills, which are famous for huge coffee plantations, with an investment of Rs 1 crore. The corporation is setting up a unique tribal village at Katiki village near Borra caves with Rs 50 lakh investment to attract more number of tourists in this region," Sai added.