A review meeting of the District Tourism Council (DTC) was held in Visakhapatnam on Friday under the chairmanship of District Collector and DTC Chairman M. Abhishikth Kishore to assess tourism programmes and development works being implemented by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

The Collector directed officials to prepare analytical reports on the functioning of private adventure and water sports operators, private tour operators and APTDC package tours over the past six months to one year, and submit them at the next DTC meeting.

He called for the identification of tourism destinations division-wise across the district and suggested the formulation of new tourism circuits in coordination with neighbouring districts. Stressing the need to increase the average stay of visitors in the city, he said special tourism policies should be evolved to encourage tourists to spend more time in Visakhapatnam.

Officials were also instructed to submit details of tourism circuit services currently in operation. The Collector suggested that coffee table books, tour itineraries and tourist information material be made available in hotels across the city.

He directed officials to conduct a study, in coordination with the Forest Department, on the feasibility of developing trekking routes in forest areas.

Mr. Kishore said no petrol bunk should be established near the Sagar Nagar HOHO (Hop On Hop Off) bus charging station and instructed that only facilities connected with HOHO bus operations be developed there.

He also proposed development plans for the beach areas of Appikonda, Yarada, Mangamaripeta and Sagar Nagar, besides suggesting that a food festival be organised in October, on the lines of last year’s event.

Among those present were VMRDA Commissioner Tej Bharat, GVMC Additional Commissioner Satyaveni, District Tourism Officer J. Madhavi, APTDC Divisional Manager G.V.B. Jagadeesh, Archaeology Department Assistant Director Phalguna Rao, representatives of the Police and Forest Departments, travel and tour operator Vijay Mohan, members of the Hoteliers Association, INTACH representatives and officials of the APTDC Engineering Department.