Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the World Bank is keen on funding that state’s Buddhism Circuit. He said that proposals to develop tourist circuits would be invited and the process would be made transparent. In a meeting with tourism officials on Saturday at the Secretariat, the CM has directed the officials to come up with suggestions to attract more international tourists by establishing more tourist attractions and promote religious, eco-tourism and beach tourism. He asked officials to promote heritage sites in the state and said that the focus should be on promoting local arts and handicrafts like Kondapalli Bommalu, Etikoppaka, Narsapuram Laces and others.
Given the popularity of AP food items, these can be promoted on a large scale through food festivals, Mr Naidu said. Festivals like Sankranthi, Dasara should be held like major events while Kuchipudi dance could be promoted on global platforms, he added.
