Andhra eyes city-led convention bureaus with Visakhapatnam first on list; registers 22% tourism growth
Ajay Jain, Special Chief Secretary to Government, (Tourism & Culture), Andhra Pradesh
The state recorded a 17.7% increase in domestic tourist arrivals in 2025-26, rising from 28 crore to 36 crore visitors. Also, the state is expected to move up from number four to two in terms of domestic arrivals. The Special Chief Secretary to Government, (Tourism & Culture), Andhra Pradesh, Ajay Jain, shares more in an exclusive interaction.
Andhra Pradesh is preparing to institutionalise its MICE ambitions with the launch of dedicated city-level convention bureaus, beginning with Visakhapatnam, in a move that Special Chief Secretary to Government, (Tourism & Culture), Andhra Pradesh, Ajay Jain believes will transform the state's ability to attract international conferences and large-scale business events.
Speaking exclusively to T3, Jain said the government has already prepared the concept paper for the proposed bureau and is working with industry stakeholders to finalise its framework. Subject to Cabinet approval, the Visakhapatnam Convention Bureau is expected to become operational within the next three months.
“We want to have city-level bureaus, not a state-level bureau. Visakhapatnam will be the first, followed by Tirupati and Amaravati. The concept paper has been prepared and, once Cabinet approval comes through, hopefully within the next three months we should have the bureau in place,” Jain shared.
The proposed bureau will function as a single-window agency responsible for destination promotion, conference bidding, stakeholder coordination and visitor facilitation. According to Jain, its role will extend far beyond marketing, bringing together hotels, convention centres, transport providers, civic authorities, tourism departments and local administration under one platform.
“It will promote the city, coordinate among different agencies, provide seamless visitor support, facilitate clearances and bid for conferences. Today, organisers have to approach multiple stakeholders separately. The bureau will become the single point of contact,” he added.
When asked, Jain also pointed to Hyderabad's convention bureau as an example of how institutional support helps destinations secure global events through competitive bidding.
“Most international conferences are won through a bidding process. Right now, nobody is bidding for Visakhapatnam. Hyderabad has been able to attract around 40 conferences because it has a city bureau. We may start with four or five, but once the ecosystem develops, the numbers will steadily grow,” he asserted.
The initiative comes alongside the state's broader investment push in tourism infrastructure. Jain said Andhra Pradesh has attracted investments worth over INR 10,000 crore in the tourism sector over the past two years, with nearly 8,000 new hotel rooms in the pipeline. Government spending, meanwhile, is being directed towards airports, highways, last-mile connectivity and destination infrastructure, while the private sector focuses on hotels and convention facilities, he added.
Visakhapatnam remains central to the state's MICE strategy. Alongside the proposed convention bureau, the government is developing a large convention centre through the PPP model, while several international hospitality brands are expanding their presence in the city, Jain confirmed.
“By the time you visit next, the new airport will be operational and the stretch from the airport will see hotels, resorts and convention facilities coming up. ITC, Taj, Hilton, Mayfair and several others have already started work,” Jain said.
Beyond business events, Andhra Pradesh is also sharpening its focus on weddings, beach tourism, adventure experiences and religious travel. Jain identified destination weddings in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati as emerging opportunities, while beach destinations such as Suryalanka are witnessing rapid growth following improved road connectivity from Hyderabad. Also, places like Araku and Gandikota are experiencing a surge. “The whole purpose is not just adding more activities or experiences but also encourage the incoming tourists to stay longer,” he said.
On tourism performance, Jain said domestic visitor numbers continue to grow strongly. The state recorded a 17.7% increase in domestic tourist arrivals in 2025-26, rising from 28 crore to 36 crore visitors, while the first quarter of the current financial year has already registered a further 22% growth. Once the government’s official tourism number analysis is out, the state is expected to jump from number four to two in terms of domestic arrivals, he confirmed.
Foreign arrivals, however, continue to be impacted in the first quarter by geopolitical developments, underlining the need for stronger international promotion and business events that can drive inbound traffic.
