Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh with representatives of Eros Innovation at the 24th Theme Parks and Industries Association of India Exhibition at the Mumbai Exhibition Center on Wednesday.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh on Wednesday held discussions with representatives of Eros Innovation on implementing advanced artificial intelligence-based cultural tourism initiatives in the state.
Speaking at the 24th India Amusement Parks and Industry Expo (IAAPI), at the Mumbai Exhibition Grounds, Mr. Durgesh said that in line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision to position the state as a global hub for emerging technologies, the Tourism Ministry was exploring the development of the world’s first proposed “large-scale cultural system and artificial intelligence model”. culture, languages, mythology, traditions and heritage of storytelling.
During the meeting, the minister discussed how the ‘cultural artificial intelligence’ ecosystem could be used to digitally transform the state’s tourism sector.
“By integrating advanced technologies such as immersive digital storytelling, visitors to ancient temples, historical monuments and culturally important places in Andhra Pradesh will be able to experience history in a more engaging and interactive way,” he noted. Instead of just visiting these places, tourists could participate in “immersive digital journeys” that tell historical events, legends and cultural stories through AI-powered platforms.
“The project aims to digitally showcase Andhra Pradesh’s rich heritage to a global audience while modernizing tourism infrastructure through technology,” the minister said, expressing confidence that the collaboration will help position Andhra Pradesh as a global leader in immersive heritage tourism that combines culture, technology and tourism into a new economic opportunity.
Mr. Durgesh said the partnership will provide international platforms and new income opportunities for young artists, storytellers, designers, filmmakers and digital creators from Andhra Pradesh. This, in turn, would contribute to the growth of the “orange economy”, which focuses on the cultural and creative sectors as drivers of economic development, he explained.
The meeting concluded with an understanding that the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department and Eros Innovation will work together to explore technology partnerships that connect culture, digital innovation and tourism, creating new economic opportunities and promoting the state’s heritage on the global stage.
The meeting was attended by senior executives of Eros Innovation, including Eros Universe and Eros Now CEO Vikram Tann, Group Marketing Director Piyush Bhatia and Eros Wellness R&D CEO Shilpa Desai.
On the government side, officials from the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, including Deputy General Manager A. Srinivas, Chief Investment Officer Satyaprabha, Marketing Manager Rafiq and Chief Consultant Shiva participated in the discussions.
Published – 11 March 2026 20:27 IST
