PATA Travel Mart to begin from Sept 16 in Hyd

Hyderabad, Aug 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Information and Public Relations and Tourism Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy today said Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart - 2008, one of the biggest business-to-business travel events, would be organised at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) from September 16 to 19.

Addressing a press conference here, he said nearly 1500 delegates from 90 countries, who were in travel and tourism industry, would attend the event in which the state government would showcase its rich cultural heritage, tourist attractions and the facilities for holding conferences.

Stating that the government had allocated Rs 6 crore for organising the event, he said the Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (APSTDC) would buy 30 new Volvo buses and 20 new hitech air conditioned coaches to provide transport facilities to the delegates. These buses would be utilised for tourism services after the event, he added.

The Minister said the event would help in attracting investments in the tourism industry in the state from other countries.

The total number of domestic tourists visiting the state was 12.79 crore, he said, adding the government was targetting an additional 10 per cent of tourist traffic this year, compared to last year.

State Principal Secretary to Tourism Department Lakshmi Pardhasaradhi said the Tourism Department was exploring more avenues to promote temple tourism, besides encouraging rural, eco and adventure tourism in future.

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