Visakhapatnam: A. Mallikarjuna, the District Collector of Visakhapatnam, has lauded the district's remarkable progress on the tourism front in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Mallikarjuna made these observations while serving as the chief guest at the World Tourism Day celebrations held at VMRDA Children Theatre in the city.

In his address to the gathering, Dr. Mallikarjuna highlighted that over 30,000 foreign tourists have visited Visakhapatnam district so far this year. He acknowledged the pivotal roles played by the hospitality and travel industries in the promotion of tourism.

The Collector also recalled the foundation-laying ceremony for hotels belonging to prestigious groups like Oberoi and others, an initiative that underscores the commitment to elevating the region's tourism infrastructure.

Dr. Mallikarjuna also pointed out that the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) invested ₹10 crore in renovating the Kailasagiri park, and ongoing works on the Sea Harrier Museum, VMRDA Park, and the Burmese ship, which ran aground near Tenneti Park, are expected to be completed within four months.

Furthermore, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has contributed to the enhancement of the city's appeal by developing several parks and improving roads.

The recent successful hosting of the G20 meeting in Visakhapatnam has elevated the city and district's image at the international level, emphasizing its potential as a global destination. In a move to maintain the region's pristine beaches and enhance their appeal, five beach cleaning machines have been requisitioned to improve cleanliness and thereby attract more tourists.

The World Tourism Day celebrations featured captivating performances by folk artistes presenting the Araku tribal dance and classical dances, along with cultural presentations by students of Nrutya Bharathi Niketan.

The Collector also honored the winners of various competitions held as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations. Ayyangari Venkata Sandeep, Ghantasala Lavanya, and Kommi Chandra Venkata Lakshmi secured the first, second, and third prizes respectively in the videography competitions.

In essay writing, K. Sai Ganesh and B. Satya Hinduja clinched the first and second prizes, while Krishnaveni Roy and Ramya secured the first and second prizes in the drawing competition. The quiz competition, organized in connection with World Tourism Day celebrations, saw Seelu Kumar's team and Kalyani's team securing the first and second prizes, respectively.

The event was attended by Regional Director and Executive Director of APTDC, Srinivas, I & PR Regional Joint Director V. Maniram, Gadiraju Palace General Manager Bharat Varma, and students from Sun College, among others.

This celebration not only recognized the potential of Visakhapatnam as a tourist destination but also highlighted the concerted efforts to boost tourism in the region.

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