Uttar Pradesh tops the list, followed by TN
C Pradeep Kumar
Vijayawada
Andhra Pradesh has retained the third position for the second time in a row in terms of domestic tourist visits (DTV) among the top 10 states across the country, according to the Indian Tourism Statistics for 2022 released by the Union Tourism Ministry.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list, followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka and Gujarat were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Andhra Pradesh saw a significant increase in tourist footfall in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2021, there were 9.32 crore DTVs, while in 2022, the number rose to 19.27 crore, an increase of 107%. The top 10 states in the country account for 84.76% of DTV, while the remaining states attract only 15%.
The DTV had drastically declined in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has since rebounded in 2022 after the pandemic restrictions were lifted. The overall DTV growth rate between 2021 and 2022 is 155.45%.
However, it is still 25% lower than the DTV levels before the pandemic in 2020.
The other states with DTV are Maharashtra (sixth), Rajasthan (seventh), West Bengal (eighth), Telangana (ninth) and Uttarakhand (tenth).
YSRCP national general secretary and member of Rajya Sabha V Vijayasai Reddy heaped praise on the AP Tourism department for securing a third position among the top ten states across the country that attract domestic tourist visitors. He said that the Union Tourism Ministry has revealed the details for the year 2022 which is a good sign for the state of Andhra Pradesh interns of Tourism.
According to AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) officials, they have been taking initiatives to position Andhra Pradesh as a globally in-demand priority preferred tourist destination. The state has a number of natural assets, including a long coastline, virgin beaches, backwaters, pristine forest areas, and divine destinations, which are complemented by world-class tourism infrastructure.
Tourism projects worth over Rs 400 crore will be integrated with world-class facilities. Some of the projects include the Visakhapatnam-Bhogapuram beach corridor and the construction of 14 ropeways across the state. Mega tourism projects are also underway, along with a Rs 198.50 crore relief and restart package for hotels, function halls, and restaurants, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
APTDC officials are confident that Andhra Pradesh will continue to attract tourists from all over the world in the coming years.
