Addressing a press conference, Mr. Durgesh said that the IATO convention would bring more than 1,000 leading inbound tour operators, domestic travel companies, destination management companies, hoteliers and representatives of airlines from across the country.
He said: “The convention would provide an opportunity to showcase Andhra Pradesh's tourism potential and establish direct business linkages between local tourism stakeholders and leading tour operators.”
Mr. Durgesh added that the IATO convention holds particularly significance as it is being held for the first time in the State after bifurcation.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is scheduled to arrive in Visakhapatnam on Thursday and participate in the programme in the evening.
More than 2,068 members of IATO, one of the country's leading associations in inbound tourism, would provide a strong platform to promote Andhra Pradesh's destinations and tourism products, he said.
The registration fees for representatives from Andhra Pradesh had been reduced to ₹3,000, compared to ₹6,000 fee for IATO members and ₹8,500 for non-members.
Mr. Durgesh appealed to IATO representatives and tourism stakeholders to prepare an action plan for developing tourism activities in the State and share their ideas and suggestions with the government.
“Ultimately, our objective is to develop Andhra Pradesh as a leading tourism destination, and the participation of tour operators and other stakeholders is crucial,” he said.
Mr. Durgesh said that the State had attracted investments of around ₹20,000 crore in the tourism sector over the past two years, and several projects had been cleared through the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB).
“In Visakhapatnam alone, 16 tourism projects with a combined investment of ₹5,529 crore had received SIPB approvals. These projects are expected to add around 950 rooms and create direct employment opportunities for about 10,000 people, he said.
The government was also working towards adding 50,000 additional hotel rooms in the State by 2029, he added.
On preparations for the Godavari Pushkarams, the Minister said: “the government is organising the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams on a large scale on the lines of the Kumbh Mela.”
IATO president G. Ravi, chairman Sunil Mishra, AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) officials and others were present.