In an attempt to promote the brand image of Visakhapatnam as a tourist hub, the State government is planning a series of activities in the next three months and has earmarked ₹ 16.5 crore fior the purpose.
Disclosing this here on Sunday, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that the government would host a scuba diving event to promote Visakhapatnam as the hotspot for the adventurous water sports.
“Around 500 scuba divers from across India, apart from some international divers, will participate in the event. The date for the event will be announced shortly. Interested persons can log on to www.goandhrapradesh.
com/scubadiving for details and registration,” he said.
The annual Visakha Utsav, the Minister said, would be organised from December 28 to 30 at RK Beach and a sum of ₹3.5 crore have been earmarked for it.
A tourism calendar has also been prepared and the Araku Balloon Festival will be part of the calendar.
Last year, the balloon festival was held for the first time and this year the festival will be held from January 18 to 20, and people from nine countries would be participating in it.
Yacht Festival
The government has sanctioned a budget of ₹4 crore for the event.
Continuing the Yacht Festival that began last year, it would be held from March 1 to 3 for which ₹4 crore has been earmarked.
This apart, the Tourism Department is working on a project called ‘Visakhapatnam to Araku—a train story’, the Minister said.
“We are working on the design and ingredients. It’s going to be a train festival from Vizag to Araku. The government has already sanctioned ₹5 crore for the project,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao added.
