Vijayawada | TFT News Desk
In a landmark step towards digital transformation of tourism, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has signed a three-year strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with travel technology company Explurger to deploy its NiVU AI (Neural Intelligence Vernacular Unified Model) platform across the state’s major tourist and pilgrimage destinations. With this initiative, Andhra Pradesh is set to become India’s first AI-powered tourism state.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain, and senior officials of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA), will introduce AI-powered multilingual assistance at more than 100 tourist destinations, beginning with 30 key locations in the first phase before expanding statewide over the next three years.
NiVU AI enables visitors to simply scan a QR code installed at temples, forts, beaches, heritage monuments and other attractions to receive instant information through voice or text in over 130 languages, without downloading an application or paying any fee. The platform aims to make cultural, historical and destination information accessible to both domestic and international travellers in their preferred language.
The initiative follows a successful pilot project at the Mangalagiri temple complex, where hundreds of devotees have already been using the AI platform daily to learn about the site’s history, rituals and traditions in their native languages. Encouraged by its success, the state government has now decided to expand the technology across Andhra Pradesh.
According to the Tourism Department, the AI-driven platform aligns with the state’s Swarna Andhra Vision 2047, leveraging advanced technology to improve visitor engagement, accessibility and destination interpretation while generating valuable tourism analytics for future planning. The initiative is also expected to enhance visitor experiences during major events such as the Godavari Pushkaralu.
The partnership represents a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence with tourism management and positions Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of technology-enabled destination experiences in India. For the exhibition, events and tourism industry, the move demonstrates how AI can enhance storytelling, visitor engagement and multilingual accessibility at heritage and cultural destinations.