VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to promote beach tourism at Thotlakonda of Visakhapatnam, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) on Thursday signed an agreement with VVLN Murthy from Visakhapatnam for operation and maintenance of beachfront and beach shacks at Thotlakonda.
As part of the agreement, the operator will develop and maintain recreation facilities for tourists. The period of service agreement is 10 years.
It is learnt that the APTDC had already constructed beach shacks at Thotlakonda beach during 2015-16 at an estimated cost of Rs 2.80 crore as part of the beachfront development. The facilities offered include, four shacks, restaurant, changing rooms, parking space, party lawns, public amenities and office room.
Speaking on the occasion, AP Tourism CEO and Managing Director Himanshu Shukla said that the agreement was signed to provide reliable services to visitors, thereby attracting tourists to the beach in a big way. Visakhapatnam is known for beautiful beaches and hills. With the availability of facilities, tourists frequently visit beaches like Rishikonda, Ramakrishna and Yarada. Thotlakonda will be developed with all facilities to attract more tourists, he added.
Facilities to be developed as part of the agreement include beach furniture (30 recliners and 30 umbrellas), beach leisure activities (live music, climbing, grip wall climbing, Jamer wall climbing and rappelling), aiming games (paint ball aiming game, dry ball aiming games, dart games and 10 pin bowling), sports (beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach cricket, obstacle races, miniature golf, beach throw ball games, pool tables and beach table tennis), innovative games (pugil stick fighting, sumo wrestling in inflated suites and costume competitions), rides (ATV rides, bicycle rides and tethered hot air balloon rides) and others (ziplining, rope walking and trampoline/ bungee swings).