Rushikonda Beach regains Blue Flag status in Visakhapatnam

Rushikonda Beach has regained its Blue Flag certification. The flag was officially raised by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh on Monday. The beach lost the designation briefly due to complaints about its maintenance. Rushikonda Beach is located in Visakhapatnam and is the only Blue Flag beach in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of 13 Blue Flag beaches in India. The Blue Flag is important for attracting foreign tourists because it ensures safety, cleanliness, and environmental awareness. Minister Durgesh and other officials stressed the need to maintain the beach to keep its Blue Flag status. They encouraged the public to avoid littering and to help care for the beach's facilities. The government recently introduced a new tourism policy, granting ‘industry’ status to tourism. This move aims to attract more entrepreneurs to the area. Plans are underway for beach shacks that could serve alcohol and wine. The proposal has been presented to the Chief Minister for consideration. During the two-week period of losing the Blue Flag, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation made repairs and upgrades to amenities at the beach. More enhancements are planned, including bamboo fencing for the area. The APTDC is also looking to upgrade ten other beaches across the state. Local leaders emphasized the importance of protecting the livelihoods of small vendors around the beach while promoting cleanliness and environmental respect.