Overview Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography, Kandula Durgesh , announced that the State government, in collaboration with the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) , will organize a two-day National Tourism Mart-2025 in Visakhapatnam on February 13 and 14, 2026 . This event aims to promote domestic tourism and showcase the diverse tourism offerings of Andhra Pradesh. Key Developments Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A MoU was signed to facilitate the rapid growth of domestic tourism, indicating a formal agreement between the Andhra Pradesh government and ADTOI. Showcasing Tourism: The event will serve as a platform to showcase the State’s coastal tourism, spiritual circuits, heritage monuments, eco-adventure tourism, and agency (tribal) area tourism at a national level. Participants: Prominent tour operators, hotel owners, destination promoters, tourism stakeholders, and travel experts from across the country will participate in the mart. Event Activities: The mart will include B2B networking sessions, destination presentations, business meetings, panel discussions, and familiarisation trips to tourist spots. Significance and Impact The National Tourism Mart-2025 is expected to enable local tourism stakeholders to establish direct business linkages with national-level players. The initiative aims to increase tourist footfall, improve local employment opportunities, foster long-term business relations, and secure national-level recognition for the State. Statements from ADTOI Representatives of ADTOI stated that their mission is to strengthen domestic tourism, promote lesser-known tourist destinations in the State, and ensure sustainable tourism growth and employment for local communities. They expressed commitment to working with national associations to achieve responsible and comprehensive tourism growth. Key Figures Present The program was attended by several key figures, including: Ajay Jain: Special Secretary of Tourism Amrapali Kata: Managing Director of AP Tourism Development Corporation and CEO of AP Tourism Authority Srinivas: Deputy CEO of APTA Tejaswi Podapati: AP State Creativity and Culture Commission Chairperson Ved Khanna: ADTOI president Vijay Mohan: Travel Mart CEO UPSC Relevance This event is relevant for GS3 (Economy) , focusing on the development of the tourism sector and its economic impact. It also aligns with GS2 (Government Policies) , showcasing government initiatives to promote tourism. The focus on sustainable tourism and local employment connects to broader development goals. Important Facts The National Tourism Mart-2025 will be held on February 13 and 14, 2026 . The event is a collaboration between the Andhra Pradesh government and ADTOI . The mart aims to showcase various types of tourism in Andhra Pradesh, including coastal, spiritual, and tribal tourism. B2B networking sessions are a key component of the event. The event seeks to improve local employment opportunities and foster long-term business relations.