AP To Receive ‘Best Tourism Promotion State’ Award Tomorrow

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has earned a rare national recognition in the tourism sector with Global Travel Market (GTM) Expo 2026, one of the largest travel and trade exhibitions in South India, selecting AP as the “Best Tourism Promotion State”.

State Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has left for a three-day visit to Kerala on Tuesday to participate in the prestigious GTM Expo 2026.

The minister will attend the inauguration of GTM Expo 2026 on Wednesday, June 3, at Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. On June 4, he will participate in the various expo events at the Golden Palace Convention Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Later that evening, at a ceremony to be held at The Leela Raviz Kovalam, he will receive the “Best Tourism Promotion State” award in the presence of leading tourism industry stakeholders and delegates from India and abroad.

Expressing his happiness over the recognition, Durgesh described the award as a tribute to the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan. He said the honour reflects the collective efforts of the Tourism department led by special chief secretary Ajay Jain, managing director Amrapali Kata and other officials, with the support from central government.

The minister attributed the achievement to the state’s Tourism Policy 2024-29, which has granted industry status to tourism, supporting tourism policies, and the successful promotion of “Brand AP” across social media and international platforms. He said year-round tourism festivals organised across districts, coupled with innovative digital campaigns, have significantly enhanced Andhra Pradesh’s visibility among domestic and international travellers.