The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Tourism is about how culture and tradition are showcased: Speaker

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Thursday, Sep 28, 2006
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Tourism is about how culture and tradition are showcased: Speaker

Staff Reporter

Speaker gives away State-level awards for excellence on World Tourism Day

HYDERABAD : Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy on Wednesday said that taking advantage of the enormous tourism potential in the State was all about showcasing culture and tradition and putting in place the required infrastructure with a futuristic view.

He gave away the State-level awards for excellence in connection with World Tourism Day to hotels, resorts, other industry-related trade outfits and to winners at the various competitions conducted by Department of Tourism in connection with the day, including for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles.

Changed scenario

"Till yesterday tourism was not a priority, there was lack of infrastructure and except the rich, people could not afford to spend on travel. Now things have changed. People now have more money and with the infrastructure boom, different facets like eco-tourism, medical and adventure are getting a boost," he said.

Chairman, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, T.K. Dewan said the State Government was working to boost eco-tourism by improving infrastructure along the 1,000-km-long coastline that the State could boast of and the Buddhist Circuit. "Tourism knows no boundaries and enriches families, individuals, communities and unites the world," he said.

Principal Secretary, Tourism, Chitra Ramachandran said Andhra Pradesh had the highest number of domestic arrivals with over 9 crore people visiting the State annually. International arrivals too were increasing and last year 5.6 lakh tourists were logged in, she said.

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