Visakhapatnam is as attractive a tourist destination as Goa and all efforts should be made to promote Brand Vizag in tourism circles, according to Ms D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development.

She was speaking here on Wednesday at the Visakha Utsav consultative committee meeting. She said the three-day Visakha Utsav should be organised every year on fixed dates and preferably it should be on December 29, 30 and 31. “Many tourists frequent Goa to welcome the New Year and some of them can be drawn to Visakhapatnam,” she said.

She suggested that the local folk arts, artists and artisans should be give due importance in the Visakha Utsav to be organised in December and efforts should be to involve the rural people in it. People from the villages should participate in the festival in large numbers.

Mr P. Balaraju, State Tribal Welfare Minister, said it was a matter of great pleasure that Visakha Utsav was being revived after a gap of six years. It was last held in 2005. He said the Girijans of Visakhapatnam and their lifestyle and arts should be reflected in the festival. It should be held in the Araku Valley and other places in the district as well. The Central Government organisation and agencies should also be involved in the fete to promote tourism.

Mr Lav Agarwal, District Collector, said the fete would be held for three days sometime between December 25 and  30. The dates would have to be finalised after consulting the Chief Minister and the State Governor who were being invited to the fete. From hereafterVisakha Utsav would be organised every year in a systematic manner, he said.

The Hindu Business Line