The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA), Government of Andhra Pradesh, in association with the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh–ADTOI National Tourism Mart (APTM 2026) on February 13, 2026, at the Vizag Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam.
The two-day B2B travel mart has been designed as a strategic platform to align Andhra Pradesh’s diverse tourism portfolio with evolving domestic travel trends, while fostering meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange, and business collaboration among stakeholders from across the country.
APTM 2026 has brought together domestic tour operators, tourism boards, government officials, hospitality stakeholders and media representatives from across India. The event features pre-scheduled B2B meetings, destination presentations, structured panel discussions and curated familiarisation tours, positioning itself as both a business and knowledge-sharing forum.
The mart was inaugurated by Shri Kandula Durgesh, Minister of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of senior dignitaries including A.A.L. Padmavathi, Executive Director, APTDC; Dr. Nukasani Balaji, Chairman, APTDC; Ajay Jain, IAS, Special Chief Secretary – Tourism, Andhra Pradesh; Amrapali Kata, IAS, CEO & MD, APTA; A. Srinivas, Deputy CEO, APTA; K. Vijay Mohan, Chairman, APTM; Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board; M.N. Harendhira Prasad, IAS, District Collector and District Magistrate; Sateesh Sherawat, President, ITTA; N.S.N. Mohan, Vice President, Skål International; Ved Khanna, President, ADTOI; and Rajat Sawhney, Senior Vice President, ADTOI, along with members of the association’s core team.
Marking one of the largest gatherings in ADTOI’s history, the mart witnessed participation from 485 ADTOI members out of 700 registrations. In total, over 600 stakeholders attended the event, including around 480 delegates travelling from across India, reflecting strong national engagement and growing momentum for domestic tourism collaboration.
A key highlight of APTM 2026 is the organisation of seven thematic sessions structured around the “Seven Anchor Hubs of Andhra Pradesh.” These focused discussions spotlight the state’s expansive coastline, spiritual and pilgrimage circuits, heritage landmarks, eco-adventure offerings, and tribal tourism experiences. The sessions aim to position Andhra Pradesh as a versatile, year-round domestic destination with strong potential for itinerary diversification.
Through its curated business framework and interactive forums, the mart seeks to strengthen partnerships between tour operators and destination stakeholders, enabling new product development and enhanced market visibility for the state. Complementing the conference agenda, curated familiarisation tours around Visakhapatnam and nearby attractions have been arranged to provide delegates with first-hand exposure to the region’s tourism infrastructure and experiential assets.
APTM 2026 is expected to play a significant role in accelerating domestic tourist footfall by creating a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange and destination promotion. By bringing policymakers, industry leaders and travel trade professionals together, the initiative reinforces Andhra Pradesh’s strategic intent to strengthen its standing on India’s domestic tourism map and showcase its diverse offerings, from the Bay of Bengal coastline and Tirupati’s spiritual circuit to Buddhist heritage sites, the Eastern Ghats, tribal experiences and emerging urban hubs such as Visakhapatnam.
 at the Vizag Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam. The two-day B2B event that kicked off yesterday has brought together over 600 stakeholders for business meetings, panel discussions and familiarisation tours to promote Andhra Pradesh’s tourism offerings and strengthen domestic partnerships.){kind=link}