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Tradebytes
Hyderabad unveils one-stop shop for tourists
ETW Staff - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, which bagged the PATA 2008 event as the host city, added another
tool to its destination marketing strategy with the unveiling of 'Paryatak Bhavan',
a unique 2.18 lakh feet space for tourism offices and others related facilities
from across the country.
The plaza also boasts of an 84-room star hotel, two conference halls, a board
room, food court, 160-seater specialty restaurant, 120-seater coffee shop, a
60-seater bar and restaurant, a 400 people capacity banquet hall, swimming pool,
a health spa and parking space for 200 cars.
Constructed with an investment of Rs 33 crore, the plaza was funded by Government
of India, which provided Rs 5 crore, while the AP state government and the Andhra
Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), chipped in Rs 12 crore and
Rs 13 crore, respectively. The office-cum-display space is to be given on rent,
while managing the hotel, conference halls, banquet halls and health spa will
be outsourced to a hotel chain, decision on which is yet to be taken.
The plaza is proposed to house tourist information stalls of other states, offices
for India Tourism, APTDC, tour operators, travel agents, and international airlines
apart from offering tourism-related facilities like currency exchange, souvenir
shops, etc. The state of Andhra Pradesh is also witnessing other activities
in the tourism sphere, assisted by the centre. It had been helping projects
in state and it has promised Rs 25 crore to destination development, Rs 50 crore
for circuit tourism with facilities like golf courses, helipad, Southern Splendour
train under Incredible India, Buddhist circuit, and a second Destination on
Wheels.
The aviation segment is also making lot of noise in the state, especially Hyderabad.
The Hyderabad International airport will commence commercial operation by March
2008. Originally, the planned capacity was of 3.5 million passengers per annum,
but the airport will now be capable of handling 12 million passengers per annum.
Another major development was the decision to convert the existing airport into
an aviation academy. Also, Lufthansa Technik, leading provider of maintenance,
repair and overhaul of airplanes, components and engines, has decided to set
up a new facility in Hyderabad to support the growing aviation sector in India.
Lufthansa Technik will team with GMR Group, infrastructure developer and the
concessionaire of airports in Hyderabad and Delhi.
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