Report on the Proceedings of The Celebrations of World Tourism Day

on 27.9.16 At Shilparamam, in Ananthapuramu, District.

Submitted to

The Commissioner of Tourism, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.

Sri .K.Bala Bhaskar, District Tourism officer, Ananthapuramu.

The following activities were taken up for organization of “World Tourism Day 2016” , in a befitting manner under the theme “Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility” at Shilparamam as decided by the District Collector & Chairman District Tourism Promotion Council, Ananthapuramu.

Meeting was organized under the chairman ship of Joint Collector

with all the stake holders for preparatory arrangements to be made Dept wise and to discuss about the programme schedule on 27.9.2016 and accordingly minutes of the meeting and letters were addressed to all the stake holders to attend for the duties

assigned and make the program successful. The workshop was organized under the Chairman ship of Joint Collector II Sri Khaja Mohiuddin, and subject matter specialist Sri Subba Reddy, Editor of Magazine “Vibbina Prathibha” who has nearly 3 decades of experience in teaching for disabled students, Smt Rani (Visually challenged)Deputy Commissioner labour, Department with all the District officers and other participants .

A brief introduction of the theme “Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility” and its importance in tourism was explained by the subject matter specialist Sri Subba Reddy, who has taken all the pain in preparation of the Brochure in English Braille script . The practical difficulties faced by the disabled

persons in visiting tourists sites and how to make the tourist places accessible to disabled and senior citizens, children pregnant ladies with some small efforts and distributed a note to all the participants. Smt Smt A.Rani, Deputy Commissioner of labour Ananthapuramu , welcomed the

global initiation being taken to provide accessibility at the tourist places as its very difficult for them to visit & enjoy unlike others and expressed that the brochure is very usefull for visually challenged persons .

Sri K.Bala Bhaskar District Tourism Officer, through power point presentation, explained about the initiation taken by the tourism department in releasing the “Ananthapuramu Tourism Brochure in English Braille Script ” and providing “2 wheelchairs at the venue, Shilparamam” as token of gesture of the theme of World Tourism Day and explained about the universal accessible measures to be taken for access to information, accommodation & transportation and the

initiation taken by Govt of India at five ASI monuments in Delhi & Agra were explained to all the officers in detail . A note on the theme of WTD and Tourist places of Ananthapuramu were prepared and distributed to all the participants. Sri Sri Khaja Mohiuddin Joint Collector II explained

that it’s an welcome decision and encouraging tourism as the tourism industry worldwide is advocating for “Tourism for All, a

tourism which can be enjoyed equally by everybody, regardless of one’s abilities.

After the work shop the actionable recommendations of the panel are submitted for kind perusal.(Enclosed)

Later after the arrival of the peoples representatives, Sri Cheman Saheb Chairman, Zilla Praja Parished , Sri Y.Prabhakar Chowdary, MLA Ananthapuramau, Smt M.Swaroopa, Mayor, Ananthapuramu Corporation, Joint Collector, Sri K. LakshmiKantham, I.A.S., Sri Khaja Mohiuddin Joint Collector II , taking out a rally to mark the World Tourism Day from the main gate to the auditorium in Shilparamam amidst drum beats from main gate to the auditorium with all the District officers , Disabled employees ,Students from various colleges and colorful cultural troops Keelugurrala, Bamboo walkers.

and participants even enjoyed the horses & Camel rides during the procession . Photo exhibition was arranged by the I&PR Department displaying the photographs of all the important pilgrimage centers , heritage sites and eco tourist spots The photo exhibition of tourist places in the district attracted the people’s attention.

The distinguished guests were received with warm welcome with bouquets into the Shilparamam auditorium by the winners of competitions held on the

Occasion of World Tourism day in JNTU M Engineering Colleges

The prayer song was sung by visually disabled children for which all the participants and delegates applauded with due respect .

The programmes was inaugurated with the traditional Jyothi Prajjwalana by all the distinguished guests after the prayer song

The Sri K.Bala Bhaskar, District Tourism officer , in his welcome address expressed heart

full wishes and regards and welcomed all the public representatives , Joint Collector’s and all the participants from various Engineering colleges Degree Colleges & Inter mediate colleges ,RDT High School for inclusive education and Disabled welfare Associations members and officers and particularly press & media for the World Tourism Day 2016 under the theme “Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility” which is an

encouraging for tourism as the decision makers & the tourism industry has started to think about Tourism for All, which can be enjoyed equally by

everybody, regardless of one’s abilities and is the right of all the world’s inhabitant. The tourism officer expressed that 15% of the global population, roughly 100 crore people, lives with some form of disability. The next decade tourism sector growth rate 7.5 % and more than 10.00 lakhs tourists visited last year with maximum number of tourists more than 2.5 lakhs visited the prestigious Lepakshi Mega Festival organized in Feb 2016 and as the Govt has increased allocation for tourism sector definitely in the coming years there is much scope for development of tourism sector in the district . The venue i.e. Shilparamam can be developed on an international scale to attract foreign tourists a cultural and artisans centre, spread over 110 acres of land itself is a major tourist edifice which has the potential to draw international tourists attention particularly art lovers.

Sri Cheman Saheb Chairman, Zilla Praja Parishad addressing the gathering said that Shilparamam developed with the efforts of MLA now have horse and camel riding, boat club with motor and peddle boating and musical fountain and the sculptures and artisans 7 crafts village is taking shape . He expressed that tourism generates jobs and development. He said that already places like Gooty Fort, Ratnagiri Kota and Penukonda have historical

significance and if given a boost and provide facilities they would enter the World tourism map, he opined.

Smt M.Swaroopa, Mayor Ananthapuramu addressing the gathering expressed happiness for celebrating the World Tourism Day with a slogan Tourism at the doorstep of people. She praised MLA Prabhakar for having taken initiative to develop Shilparamam as a tourist destination.

Sri Y.Prabhakar Chowdary, MLA Ananthapuramau Participating in the World Tourism Day celebrations at Shilparamam Tourism Centre here on Tuesday the 27th Sept 2016 opined that tourism plays a crucial role in regional and national development as there would a travel boom. Exposure to tourists and also generate revenue for the region and state within the district, Puttaparthi had already gained worldwide

recognition. This apart Timmamma Marrimanu, Gooty Fort, Penukonda, Kadiri and Lepakshi are also historical centers of repute. He added that The Chief Minister Sri N.Chandra Babu Naidu has already included the district in the state tourism hub and such an inclusion would boost our bid to develop the district into a major religious tourist destination. The Peace Memorial Hall of the second World War era would be converted into a war Memorial Centre located in the city, he added. Further Sri Y.Prabhakar Chowdary, MLA Ananthapuramau in response to the theme of universal accessibility to mark the World Tourism Day celebrations and to encourage the people in old age and the physically challenged persons announced that “a battery car” will be placed at the disposal of the targeted sections so that they could sit in the car and go around Shilparamam enjoying the scenic beauty of the place.

The Brochure in English Braille Script on the tourist

places in Ananthapuramu District was released by

all the distinguished chief Guests as part of

universal information accessibility on the eve World

Tourism Day celebrations on 27.9.2016 at

Shilparamam Ananthapuramu .

The Brochure in English Braille Script on the Tourist places in Ananthapuramu

District was read by visually challenged Smt

A.Rani, Deputy Commissioner, Labour

Department and she expressed her sincere

gratitude for the initiation taken by the Tourism

Department in releasing the Brochure in Braille

script about the Tourist places in Ananthapuramu

District and read out the first two Pages in the

Brochure which was watched by all the

distinguished guests with attention as seen in the photograph and soon after MLA

Ananthapuramu announced that Lotus Braille statue will also be installed on the

premises of the Shilparamam soon .

There was a huge applaud form the participants and the guest on the Dias for

the above announcement and the everyone appreciated the efforts taken by the

tourism department in releasing the brochure in Braille script may be for the first time in

the state/country

Joint Collector Sri B.Lakshmikantham, I.A.S., said that several proposals

for development of tourist places had already been sent to the

government for consideration.He said that Tourism generates

revenue, Tirupati gets three crore tourists every year a Rs. 2,200

crore revenue is generated by the temple tourism. He mentioned

about the message of the United Nations Secretary General

Sri Ban Ki Moon that Tourism is the potential sector worldwide and a

passport for prosperity & peace and on this world tourism day let us all work together

to remove the mental & physical barriers to travel and recognize that all people can

& should enjoy the tourism by all means .

Joint collector II Sri Sayed Khaja Mohiddin stated that in the State

seven per cent of the state gross revenue comes from tourism

besides generating jobs to the jobless and definitely

Shilparamam shall become the most sought after destination in

the district in near future .

Later Merit certificates have been distributed by the distinguished

guests to all the winners in the competitions held across the

district on the occasion of world Tourism Day celebrations on

tourism themes.

After the prize distribution Cultural programmes were organized as part of the

celebrations of the World Tourism Day.

There was wide coverage of the World Tourism Day Celebrations in the local

press and following are some of the Press clippings.

K.Bala Bhaskar , District Tourism Officer, Ananthapuramu.