TIRUPATI: Representatives of various government departments and agencies including the APSRTC, tourism, South central railways and the hoteliers association urged the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to increase the pilgrim footfall to the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara as the local economy otherwise sees no hope of revival owing to the low pilgrim turnout to the hill town.
During a meeting convened by the Tirupati MP Dr M Gurumoorthy to discuss about the measures initiated by various government departments to revive tourism and the local economy held at the Shilparamam in the temple city on Saturday, representatives from the travel and hospitality sectors brought to the notice of the local MP that unless the TTD increases the pilgrim footfall to the hill town, all tourism linked sectors would continue to suffer.
After the APSRTC, railways, tourism officials placed the sector wise revenue loss figures before the local MP, Dr M Gurumoorty assured them that he would take up their grievances to the notice of TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy and expressed hope that the temple body will soon initiate measures to relax the Covid-19 guidelines on the hill town.
Meanwhile, the tourism officials of Chittoor and Nellore districts were directed to identify tourism hot-spots in the two neighbouring districts which border the state of Tamil Nadu. "We have a large coastline and it is important for us to develop beaches and encourage tourism activities along the coastline. Tirupati must be transformed as one of the top tourist destinations in the country within the next two years and should emerge as one of the highest revenue earning cities", Tirupati MP directed the officials.
Chittoor district joint collector Rajasekhar, Srikalahasti EO, tourism department officials and others took part.
