Sale of foreign liquor only to promote tourism: Minister

‘Boating activity resumes, tourists’ safety top priority’

Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao on Thursday asserted that the sale of foreign liquor in bars and restaurants run by the A.P. Tourism was a part of tourism promotion and it did not tantamount to encouraging liquor sale. At a press conference organised by the A.P. Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to announce resumption of boating activity in the State, the Minister said with tourists’ safety as top priority, the department had put in place a fool-proof mechanism. In the first phase, boating would re-start at Papikondalu in West Godavari district, he added. He said the government was keen on developing tourism to attract tourists from across the globe. The pandemic had played spoil sport, causing a revenue loss of around ₹150 crore to the department in the last one-and-a-half years, he said.