Hyderabad, Oct 28: The inaugural Afro-Asian Games has provided a perfect opportunity to the host city to promote itself as a top-class tourist destination. A glittering opening ceremony early last week has already made Hyderabad's case strong for staging an Olympics in 2016 given a scope to showcase the city's potential in entertaining the different people from various parts of the world.
"This is a great opportunity for us to promote Hyderabad internationally. With so many journalists, athletes and officials coming from all around the world for the games it gives us a perfect platform to send a message about the city's potential," Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Chandana Khan, told reporters here today.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu drew the world world's attention towards Hyderabad when he described the city as a perfect tourist destination during inaugural function.
This attempt by the Andhra Pradesh was primarily targeted at international visitors whose tour of the place will keep the state government's cash counter ringing.
According to statistics, every year around 6.33 crore domestic visitors come to Andhra Pradesh but only two lakh international tourists visit annually.
Bureau Report