Mastercard Partners with Andhra Pradesh to Elevate Tourism Experience Across the State.
Banking & Finance
In July 2025, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department joined hands with Mastercard to host a strategic workshop in Vijayawada. The collaboration aims to develop immersive tourism circuits, build a distinct state-wide brand identity, and enhance digital access for Mastercard holders and global travellers, under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision.
- In Vijayawada, officials from the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) collaborated with Mastercard representatives and tourism stakeholders in a workshop to design world-class tourism experiences. The focus was on curating thematic tourist circuits—ranging from coastal and tribal heritage to spiritual trails—and aligning them with global expectations for Mastercard cardholders and international visitors.
- Under the guidance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, and Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain, the state is working toward establishing Andhra Pradesh as South Asia’s top tourism destination. Development themes included digital marketing integration, immersive branding, and conceptualising a unique tourism tagline to be launched on World Tourism Day in September.
Main Point :- (i) Stakeholders discussed sustainable tourism models that integrate local communities and cultural exchange within destinations like Araku–Visakhapatnam (tribal culture), Godavari backwaters, Suryalanka–Chirala Coastal circuit, and the Tirupati spiritual corridor.
(ii) The partnership builds on Andhra Pradesh’s eco‑tourism and community‑based initiatives. The state has identified over 500 new homestays across tribal, heritage, rural, and urban areas—set for upgrades by August 2025—and nearly 600 existing homes in Tirupati are receiving hospitality training with support from platforms like Airbnb, Oyo, and MakeMyTrip. Mastercard’s collaboration plays a key role in driving this locus of inclusive growth and decentralized tourism livelihoods.
Chief minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
Governor: Syed Abdul Nazeer
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