DC for strategic planning for boosting tourism in Agency areasMove will create job opportunities for tribal communities and foster sustainable tourism

District Collector AS Dinesh Kumar underscored the importance of strategic planning in the development of tourist destinations, during a meeting held at the Collectorate Conference Hall on Thursday. The session convened officials responsible for organising the Araku Chali Festival 2025 to discuss key development initiatives aimed at enhancing tourism in the region.
Addressing the gathering, the Collector stressed the need to develop tourism areas while ensuring that management responsibilities are entrusted to local villages. He highlighted that this approach would create employment opportunities for tribal communities and foster sustainable tourism. Furthermore, he emphasised the integration of Panchayat Raj, Forest Department, and Tribal Acts into tourism development plans to ensure inclusive growth.
To enrich visitor experiences, the Collector proposed the promotion of homestays in tribal habitats, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in local culture while simultaneously benefiting the tribal population. He also noted that essential infrastructure, including roads and electricity, has already been provided in the Paderu, Rampachodavaram, and Chintur divisions, with ongoing efforts to promote adventure tourism in these agency areas.
Additionally, the Collector called for further improvements in road and electricity facilities at tourist destinations and stressed the importance of identifying and supporting tribal artists. Reviewing the recently concluded three-day Araku Festival, held from January 31 to February 2 in Araku Valley, he assured that necessary measures would be taken to address any shortcomings and enhance future events.
Following discussions, the Collector issued directives to officials to implement these initiatives effectively. The meeting was attended by Joint Collector Dr M J Abhishek Gowda, Sub Collector Shauryaman Patel, DFO PV Sandeep Reddy, DRO K. Padmala, DRDA PD V Murali, District Panchayat Officer B Lavaraju, Divisional Panchayat Officer PS Kumar, along with officials from various departments, MPDOs, Tahsildars, and other key stakeholders.
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