The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA), Government of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh–ADTOI National Tourism Mart (APTM 2026) at the Vizag Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam.
Conceived as a strategic B2B platform, the two-day mart aims to align Andhra Pradesh’s diverse tourism offerings with evolving domestic travel trends while fostering meaningful business partnerships and knowledge exchange among stakeholders across the country.
The event was inaugurated by Kandula Durgesh, Minister of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of senior dignitaries including A.A.L. Padmavathi, Executive Director, APTDC; Dr. Nukasani Balaji, Chairman, APTDC; Ajay Jain, IAS, Special Chief Secretary – Tourism; Amrapali Kata, IAS, CEO & MD, APTA; A. Srinivas, Deputy CEO, APTA; K. Vijay Mohan, Chairman, APTM; Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board; M.N. Harendhira Prasad, IAS, District Collector and District Magistrate; Sateesh Sherawat, President, ITTA; N.S.N. Mohan, Vice President, Skål International; Ved Khanna, President, ADTOI; and Rajat Sawhney, Senior Vice President, ADTOI.
Marking one of the largest gatherings in ADTOI’s history, the mart recorded 700 registrations, with 485 ADTOI members participating. Overall attendance crossed 600 stakeholders, including around 480 delegates from across India, underlining strong national engagement in domestic tourism.
APTM 2026 features pre-scheduled B2B meetings, destination presentations, structured panel discussions and curated familiarisation tours. A key highlight is seven thematic sessions centred on the “Seven Anchor Hubs of Andhra Pradesh,” showcasing the state’s coastline, pilgrimage circuits, heritage sites, eco-adventure offerings and tribal tourism experiences.
Through its structured business framework and interactive forums, the mart seeks to strengthen partnerships between tour operators and destination stakeholders, driving product development and enhancing market visibility. Familiarisation tours around Visakhapatnam and nearby attractions have also been organised to offer delegates first-hand insights into the region’s tourism infrastructure and experiences.
By bringing policymakers, industry leaders and travel trade professionals under one roof, APTM 2026 reinforces Andhra Pradesh’s strategic push to strengthen its position on India’s domestic tourism map, highlighting its diverse portfolio—from the Bay of Bengal coastline and Tirupati’s spiritual circuit to Buddhist heritage sites, the Eastern Ghats and emerging urban hubs like Visakhapatnam.
Read more at TravelMail | Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | and Instagram for on-the-go news
