The Andhra Pradesh – ADTOI National Travel Mart (APTM 2026), held on February 13–14, 2026, at the V Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam, emerged as a significant platform for strengthening domestic tourism partnerships between the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA). Conceived as a focused B2B initiative, the two-day event aligned the state’s tourism offerings with evolving domestic travel trends while encouraging deeper engagement between industry stakeholders.
The mart was inaugurated by Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography, Government of Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of dignitaries, senior officials, industry leaders, and members of the association’s core team. During the inauguration, the Andhra Pradesh Travel Partners Portal and the state’s Buddhist Circuit initiative were launched, highlighting the government’s focus on digital integration and thematic tourism development.
Strong Industry Participation and Business Exchange
APTM 2026 witnessed strong industry participation, recording nearly 700 registrations, including over 500 buyers and more than 80 sellers representing tourism stakeholders from across India. Delegates from key source markets such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi NCR, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands participated in thousands of pre-scheduled B2B meetings, creating opportunities for meaningful business exchanges and long-term partnerships.
Seven Anchor Hubs of Andhra Pradesh
The event also featured seven thematic sessions centred around the “Seven Anchor Hubs of Andhra Pradesh,” highlighting the state’s diverse tourism offerings, including temple tourism, coastal destinations, eco-adventure experiences, Buddhist heritage circuits, weddings and MICE tourism, tribal tourism, and homestay experiences.
Complementing the conference agenda, curated familiarisation tours across Visakhapatnam and nearby attractions offered delegates firsthand exposure to the region’s tourism infrastructure and natural landscapes, encouraging itinerary development and greater domestic tourist movement.
Overall, APTM 2026 reinforced Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to strengthening domestic tourism through strategic trade partnerships, policy support, and experiential destination promotion.
Building Momentum Beyond ADTOI–APTM 2026
Following the ADTOI- APTM 2026 in Visakhapatnam, event leaders and participating members shared insights on post-mart engagement, experience-driven storytelling, and destination development priorities for Andhra Pradesh’s sustained tourism growth.
Ved Khanna, President, ADTOI
APTM 2026 has been a landmark moment for ADTOI, but for us, the mart is not the end goal; it is the beginning of structured engagement. We are focusing on post-mart business tracking, stronger chapter-to-chapter collaboration, and digital networking continuity through our ADTOI app and internal platforms to convert connections into measurable revenue growth and long-term alliances.
I believe domestic tourism today is no longer about selling packages; it is about creating immersive experiences. At ADTOI, we are encouraging our members to design experience-driven itineraries across heritage, tribal, eco, spiritual, and wellness circuits rather than single-destination products. Through workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms, we are promoting product innovation and storytelling, while also pushing niche segments such as rural tourism and experiential homestays to enhance length of stay and per capita spending. Storytelling builds an emotional connection that drives repeat travel.
At the same time, state-level policy support remains critical. Trade interest can spark momentum, but infrastructure and policy enable sustainability. Events like the Andhra Pradesh ADTOI National Travel Mart in Visakhapatnam generate intent, but seamless connectivity, quality accommodation, safety, and destination readiness convert that intent into actual arrivals. I strongly believe government, industry, and associations must work together to ensure sustainable and scalable tourism growth.
Vijay Mohan, Chairman, ADTOI, Andhra Pradesh Chapter
Beyond APTM 2026, our focus now is to ensure that the engagement translates into tangible business outcomes and long-term collaborations. We are strengthening dedicated follow-up mechanisms and using our regional chapter network; we strive to sustain interaction through focused webinars, networking platforms, and direct outreach. The data generated from the mart is equally valuable, as it helps us identify emerging trends, destination demand, and member requirements, enabling us to design targeted initiatives. At the same time, we will continue promotional efforts highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s hidden gems and unique experiences, while also supporting policy advocacy to create a stronger business ecosystem.
In an increasingly competitive domestic tourism landscape, I believe we must move beyond transactional selling towards curated destination storytelling. We are encouraging specialised training and workshops that help members build narratives around local culture, artisans, cuisine, and heritage. Promoting niche and experiential offerings such as eco-tourism, cultural festivals, adventure, and culinary journeys will naturally lead to richer storytelling and higher-value travel. We are also working to strengthen collaborations with local operators and leverage digital content, including videos, virtual tours, and social media, to inspire deeper engagement and longer stays.
State-level policy support and strong infrastructure development, including connectivity, remain the backbone of sustained tourist footfall. Ease of doing business, safety, and skilled workforce development ensure long-term growth and convert intent into actual travel.
Sayyed Shehzad-ud-din, Director, Travel Passion Inc
I must say that Andhra Pradesh has a strong and, in many ways, under-leveraged tourism portfolio. From a product development and business perspective, I see several clear opportunity areas. Sites such as Amaravati Stupa and Nagarjunakonda position the state well for international Buddhist circuits, particularly for Southeast Asian markets. With icons like Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Srisailam Temple, and Simhachalam Temple, the state has strong potential for curated spiritual circuits.
The coastline around Visakhapatnam, including Rushikonda Beach, offers scope for leisure and MICE tourism, while destinations such as Araku Valley and Lambasingi are ideal for experiential travel.
To elevate Andhra Pradesh as a high-performing domestic destination, priority actions should include building signature circuits such as Tirupati spiritual extensions, Vijayawada–Amaravati Buddhist routes, and the Gandikota adventure circuit, alongside strengthening accommodation supply and upgrading experience infrastructure through smart ticketing, interpretation centres, and eco-friendly amenities.
, held on February 13–14, 2026, at the V Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam, emerged as a significant platform for strengthening domestic tourism partnerships between the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA). Conceived as a focused B2B initiative, the two-day event aligned the state’s tourism offerings with evolving domestic travel trends while encouraging deeper engagement between industry stakeholders.){kind=link}