Handicrafts to be made part and parcel of tourism promotion

Vijayawada: In an attempt to encourage both domestic and foreign tourism in the state, the tourism department headed by its secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena has drawn an ambition plan to attract tourists by providing them abundant information about the indigenous arts and handicrafts.

As part of it, the tourism department conducted a workshop with the artists, artisans and distributors of handicrafts here on Sunday to create awareness among them on how to attract tourists and deal with them courteously.

Mukesh Kumar Meena, addressing the gathering, said that tourist visit our state to see the places of historical importance, to taste the indigenous food and to know the local culture and finally to buy the locally made things. “They are here to spend their hard-earned money and we have to treat them with courtesy,” he said and added that we should also inform them the specialty of our handicrafts.

He said, “We will inform you how to deal with them and convince them to buy your handicrafts.” A number of artisans, including Mangalagiri handloom workers, Bandaru Kalankari artists and the makers of the famous Kondapalli toys attended the workshop.

Meena told them that the department would prepare a booklet, a coffee table book and pamphlets with the information on the handicrafts and toys available in the area and made them available at key points like railway station, bus station and airport. “The tourists would know where to go to find these handicrafts, toys and dress material going through the booklet,” he said.

Himanshu Shukla, director of department of tourism, said that the tourists would naturally look for four things, where to stay, what to see, what to eat and what to buy. “We provide them with that information if you all give your addresses with phone numbers and handicrafts available with you,” he said.

The director said that he was surprised to see while visiting Australia the dress material from Mangalagiri being sold for Rs 2 lakh at Melbourne. “You could well catch the attraction for the Mangalagiri dress material and saris and make good money,” he added.

Dr Sambasiva Raju, director of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority said that it was high time the tourists were encouraged to look for handicrafts of Andhra Pradesh and to take back home memorabilia.

Former MLA Murugudu Hanumanta Rao, Mangalaigiri Master Weavers Association president Jonnadula Varaprasad, Kalankari Workers Association president Bhatta Mohan Rao and others also spoke.