Sania, Gopichand to plug Buddhist sites in AP

LENDING VIGOUR: The State Minister for Tourism, Ms J. Geeta Reddy, arrives with sporting icons Sania Mirza and Pullela Gopichand to promote Buddhist sites in the State in Hyderabad on Monday. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , July 11

WHEN Sania Mirza, the teenage tennis sensation from Andhra Pradesh, goes on her next sports tournament, she would promote AP Tourism.

She and former All-England Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand have been roped in by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Ministry as ambassadors to promote tourism in India and abroad.

Ms Mirza said she was proud to be a Hyderabadi. "I will do all that I can to make Hyderabad a preferred destination," she said.

At a gathering here on Monday, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Tourism and Sugar, said that sports and tourism went together. "They both understand cultures and build bridges. Also, they create better understanding of people's cultures," she said.

Mr Gopichand said he himself liked the tourism destinations in the State. "I have visited most places," he said.

"All these years, I had been promoting the State in my personal capacity,now I do that officially," he said.

Mr Gopichand said the State tourism potential would be promoted at the upcoming Junior ABC to be held at Jakarta.

Dr Geeta Reddy also launched the State's Buddhist Circuit. The circuit was announced at road shows held in Colombo and Bangkok last month.

In association with SriLankan Airlines, the Andhra Pradesh Government offered the Colombo package at $265 and the Bangkok one at $465. Both the packages include two nights/three days' hotel stay and sightseeing to select Buddhist spots in the State.

At the Bangkok meet, Dr Geeta Reddy had proposed a forum of Tourism Ministers of countries where Buddhism was practised.