Focus is on promoting event management sector to boost tourism, says A.P. Minister

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh on Saturday said that the State government would capitalise on the role of event management in boosting tourism and hospitality

The government will implement policies that support event planning, organisation and management, potentially including investments in infrastructure and skill development for the industry. Focus would be on creating a favourable environment to promote the State as a destination for various events, the Minister said.

He was speaking at EEMAGINE 2025, an annual event of the Event & Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) organised at Fairmont Udaipur Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, from August 1 to 3.

 Mr. Durgesh said that the government was committed to encouraging the event management industry. The department’s senior officials Ajay Jain and Amrapali Kata also participated in the event.

At an exhibition stall put up by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), the officials interacted with several event managers and explained about the ‘Swarnandhra Tourism Vision 2029”.

Stating that Andhra Pradesh intends to integrate the event management sector into tourism growth strategies, the Minister informed that the A.P. Tourism Authority had empanelled 21 event management agencies under two categories —one for mega and district-level events and another for district-level events. More than 110 tourism operators had also been empanelled, he said.

Event calendar

The Minister said a calendar had been prepared to organise eight mega events and 15 district-level events in the State. Partnerships were being forged with international associations like the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and others to promote the event management sector.

Referring to the Tourism Policy, Mr. Durgesh said that it aimed at increasing the tourism’s contribution to the State’s GDP from 4.6% to 8% and creating 2 lakh new jobs, raising tourism’s employment share from 12% to over 15%, and position Andhra Pradesh as one of India’s top 10 States for foreign tourism.