News

Tourism promotional program launched

BY CHANDANI Jayatilleke

COLOMBO and Hyderabad launched a tourism promotional program at the Taj Samudra Hotel last evening as part of a strategic plan to encourage travellers between the two cities.

Andra Pradesh, Tourism Minister Dr. Geetha Reddy and Sabyasachi Ghosh, Director Department of Tourism, Andra Pradesh were in Colombo to kick off the road show.

Speaking to the Daily News, Dr. Reddy said tourism is the most happening thing in the world and Sri Lanka and India can help each other to be a major part of this growing tourism industry.

"We are here to promote bilateral tourism. Although Andra Pradesh is rich in history and Buddhist culture, this is the first time our state has come forward to brand its tourism attractions with another country," she said.

Although many Lankans visit India on Buddhist pilgrims, they do not visit Buddhist sites in Andra Pradesh. "In fact we have not promoted our state as a Buddhist cultural site. But, the magnificent remains of many Buddhist Viharas and stupas in Andra Pradesh demonstrate a glorious glimpse of the ancient times when Buddhism flourished in the State," Dr. Reddy said.

There are about 144 sites spread all over the state. It is from Andra Pradesh that Buddhism spreaded to the far east including China, Japan and Sri Lanka, she added.

To promote tourism with Sri Lanka, Andra Pradesh Tourism Ministry has already tied up with SriLankan Airlines, which is flying to Hyderabad, the main city of Andra Pradesh seven times a week.

Accordingly, several holiday packages are offered at a reasonable price.

"We can offer better airline and hotel prices under this package. Therefore, many people could afford to travel between the two destinations," Tourism Department Director Gosh said.

He added, a similar agreement has been initiated with Thailand as well. "In the future we are hoping to tie up with Malaysia and Singapore, so that the whole region can share the benefits," he said.

Among the packages promoted by Andra Pradesh Tourism include cultural, medical, sports, pilgrim, and eco tourism.

Two of the State's renowned sports stars, former Badminton Champion P. Gopichan and current tennis player Sania Mirza have been chosen as brand ambassadors to promote sports tourism.

"We are also hoping to get the services of several cricketers," Dr. Reddy who is also the President of Women Cricket in Andra Pradesh said.

Andra Pradesh is visited by over 500,000 tourists a year. "We want to increase this by 25 percent each year.

The State's Chief Minister Y.S. RajaShekar Reddy has identified tourism as a potential area for generation of employment opportunities and foreign exchange. "We are working towards reaching this goal," the Tourism Minister said.