AP Tourism's Vizag arm clocks 39.5% growth in revenue

The Visakhapatnam division of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Limited (APTDC), which covers three districts of north coastal Andhra, has registered a growth of 39.5 per cent in revenue earnings for the year ended March 31, 2004.

"Though our revenue target for 2003-04 was Rs 5.5 crore, our revenue has increased to Rs 6.28 crore as compared to Rs 4.5 crore during the previous year, thus registering a growth of 39.5 per cent. The corporation is projecting a revenue earnings of Rs 7.5 crore from the division this year," PGS Sai, divisional manager of APTDC, Visakhapatnam division, told Business Standard.

During 2003-04, APTDC earned Rs 3.46 crore on hotels and restaurants, Rs 1.68 crore on tours and travels and Rs 1.14 crore on eco-tourism, as compared with Rs 2.6 crore, Rs 1.07 crore and Rs 0.83 crore respectively in the preceding year, he said.

To strengthen the transport section further, the corporation is planning to add one air-conditioned luxury bus and one hi-tech bus very shortly.

"At present, the division runs 13 vehicles including eight hi-tech buses, three Qualis and one Vintage coach," he said.

Sai said that the corporation is also planning to organise new tours from Visakhapatnam to Srisailam and Tirupati, and a five-day tour which covers all the shrines in Tirupati.

"We are planning to introduce some new tourism programmes to attract more tourists this year. During 2003-04, as many as 3.13 lakh tourists visited the Borra caves near Araku, as against 2.5 lakh tourists in the previous year. We are expecting an influx of tourists this year," Sai said.

"The corporation is introducing a 10-km launch journey on sea between Visakhapatnam and Rushikonda, and para-sailing to attract domestic as well as the foreign tourists," he added.

Sai said that the corporation has spent nearly Rs 4.5 crore to provide additional facilities to the tourists, including additional rooms at Yatri Nivas buildings, conference halls and restaurants at Rushikonda during the year ended March 31, 2004.

"The corporation has also decided to construct 60 rooms at Araku Mayuri building complex, 15 new cottages at Ananthagiri Hill resorts and four cottages at Tyda eco-tourism project area. The corporation will spend Rs 2 crore for these projects," he said.