Click to play videoNew Delhi: It’s not Goa, not Himachal, not even Rajasthan where the largest number of tourists are going. And if you are wondering which state actually tops in the domestic tourism circuit - take a look at this story.
Beaches, heritage sites, culture and cuisine - when you think tourism that's perhaps what you think of and with it think of Goa, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerela. But guess what? When it comes to domestic tourism most people are thinking Andhra Pradesh.
A ministry of tourism report reveals that Andhra commands a whopping over 24 per cent of the domestic tourism share.
Ministry of Tourism ADG Sanjay Kothari says, “It is the highest in terms of domestic tourism.''
So what makes Andhra a hot favourite - divine intervention perhaps?
“Ofcourse Tirupati, which is a pilgrimage destination and a lot of people go there,'' Kothari adds.
Ministry officials confirm that besides the historic Charminar, famous Hyderabadi biryani and a favoured international convention centres in the capital, tourists throng Andhra for the Tirupati temple.
Kothari says, “There is a good infrastructure the numbers multiply. Second Andhra has 88 classified hotels with 7000 rooms, which is very good. In addition there is IT hub in addition there is international centre. People are warm and hospitable. That all contributes for Andhra being the number one. ''
Which also makes the state a top grosser in the ministry's flagship circuit - Spiritual Tourism.
If the sales of the biryani and the famous Andhra thali at the Andhra Bhawan here is anything to go by, then perhaps you can safely say the proof of the pudding is literally in the eating. Little wonder then that besides domestic tourism Andhra has even managed to be in the top 10 most favoured destination for foreigners as well.
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