Godavari Pushkaralu to Be Held on Lines of Kumbh Mela: Durgesh
The Godavari Pushkaralu 2027, he said, would be held on the lines of the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Kakinada:Tourism Minister, Kandula Durgesh, has affirmed that developing tourism is a key objective of the alliance government and state would be moulded as ''Tourism Andhra Pradesh.''
The Godavari Pushkaralu 2027, he said, would be held on the lines of the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Addressing the World Tourism Day celebrations in Rajamahendravaram on Sunday night, Durgesh detailed the tourism sector developments undertaken since the alliance government assumed office two and a half years ago, as well as the plans for the next three years.
He said, “Thanks to the initiative taken by the chief minister and deputy chief minister, to grant Industry status to the tourism sector, a large number of investors came forward. Attracting investments worth `20,000 crore to the state within just two and a half years is a highly positive development.”
Durgesh said that it was to bring about revolutionary changes in the tourism sector that the government implemented the 'New Tourism Policy (2024-29)'. Modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing are being utilised to make existing resources more accessible, he said.
The minister noted that through an agreement with the organisation Explurzer, the QR code technology has been deployed to provide easy access to information about the unique features of over 100 tourist destinations in AP in 130 languages. Tourism is the sector that generates the highest employment after the industrial sector, he said.
He said the state's vast coastline, along with sacred sites like the Pancharamas, Jyotirlingas, Shakti Peethas, Tirumala, Srisailam, and Simhachalam, combined with scenic destinations such as Araku, Borra Caves, Belum Caves, Maredumilli, Lambasingi, and Gandikota, are giving a major boost to eco-tourism.
The minister recalled that renowned actor Rajinikanth had expressed a desire to shoot a scene for his movie near Maredumilli.
Durgesh launched a new initiative titled "Godavari Calls" (Godavari Pilustondi), serving as a curtain-raiser for the Godavari Pushkaralu scheduled for 2027.
MLC Somu Veerraju, Anaparthi MLA Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy, Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Nehru and special chief secretary of the tourism and culture department, S.S Rawat were present.
The event was attended also by tourism MD Pattan Shetty Ravi Subhash, East Godavari collector Keerthi Chekuri, Kadapa collector Sridhar Cherukuri, Rajamahendravaram municipal commissioner Rahul Meena.