Swachh Pakhwada launched to attract tourists

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Tourism department on Sunday launched Swachh Pakhwada (fortnight), a tourism promotion and cleanliness campaign to attract tourists to various destinations in the state.

The Swachh Pakhwada was launched by the Union government in association with the State governments and Union Territories. As part of the two-weeks programme, the Andhra Pradesh tourism department will take up activities like cleaning of surroundings, placing of dustbins, taking out rallies to create awareness on the cleanliness in all 13 districts across the state.

Narasapuram MP Gokaraju Gangaraju inaugurated the Swachh Pakhwada campaign atop Gandhi hills here on Sunday. The MP, tourism department officials and school children cleaned the Gandhi hills area where giant sthupa was installed to mark the launching of Swachh Pakhwada, which is part of Swachh Bharat, clean India campaign.  

Speaking on the occasion, Gangaraju said AP has more tourism opportunities than Kerala but the state was lagging in attracting the tourists. He said many foreigners are coming to Kerala but AP failed to attract them due to poor development of tourism in the state. He made it clear that tourism could not be developed without clean environment and added the teachers and parents should educate children on the importance of hygiene and clean environment.

AP tourism department executive director R Mallikarjuna Rao said the department will observe Swachh Pakhwada campaign from September 16 to 30 and added the cleanliness drive will be taken up at Suryalanka beach, Guntur district on September 17, Shilparamam and Tirupati on September 18, Rishikonda beach in Visakhapatnam on September 19, Dindi, East Godavari on September 20, Mypadu beach, Nellore on September 21, Dwaraka Tirumala, West Godavari on September 22, Harita hotel, Kurnool on September 23 and Harita hotel, Kadapa September on 24, Lepakshi, Anantapur on September 25 and Thumalapatna, Prakasam on September 27.

He further said the World Tourism Day would be celebrated in all districts on September 27 and Swachh Pakwada campaign will continue at Kalingapatnam beach resort in Srikakulam on September 29 and Gurajada heritage home, Vizianagaram on September 29 and closing ceremony at Berm park, Vijayawada on September 30.

The MP also inaugurated Paryatan Parv tourism promotion campaign launched by the Union government across India from September 16 to 27.  The tourism department will organise rallies, essay writing competitions and other events for students in the state on the occasion.