Vijayawada, India: In a landmark move that is set to redefine the future of tourism, Andhra Pradesh Tourism has joined hands with Explurger, India’s homegrown travel technology company, to create the world’s first AI-led tourism state. Through a three-year strategic partnership, the state will deploy NiVU, Explurger’s next-generation AI-powered travel assistant, across its tourism ecosystem, ushering in a new era of intelligent, personalised, and immersive travel experiences.
The partnership was formalised in Vijayawada with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Jitin Bhatia, Founder & CEO of Explurger, in the presence of senior Andhra Pradesh government officials, marking the beginning of a long-term collaboration to transform how travellers discover and experience the state.
As part of the first phase, NiVU will be introduced at more than 100 prominent tourist attractions and heritage sites across Andhra Pradesh. Over the next three years, the AI platform will expand across the state’s tourism network, creating one of the world’s most comprehensive AI-powered tourism ecosystems.
Announcing the initiative on July 7, 2026, Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography, Kandula Durgesh, described the partnership as a significant milestone that will make Andhra Pradesh the first state in India to introduce an AI-powered tourism guide across its tourist destinations.
NiVU has been designed to make travel smarter, more engaging, and accessible to everyone. Visitors can simply scan a QR code at participating tourist locations to begin interacting with the AI assistant—without downloading an app. Supporting more than 130 languages, NiVU delivers instant information through voice and text, offering historical insights, cultural stories, nearby attractions, personalised recommendations, navigation support, and contextual travel guidance in the visitor’s preferred language.
Unlike traditional information boards, NiVU enables natural, conversational interactions that allow travellers to ask questions and receive real-time, contextual responses. Whether exploring an ancient monument, discovering local traditions, or planning the next stop on their journey, visitors enjoy a richer, more personalised travel experience.
The initiative also introduces a powerful tourism intelligence platform for Andhra Pradesh Tourism. Through real-time analytics, tourism authorities will gain valuable insights into visitor engagement, language preferences, destination popularity, and emerging travel trends, enabling more informed decision-making and smarter destination management.
Explurger will manage the complete deployment and operation of the AI ecosystem, including technology infrastructure, multilingual content, platform hosting, maintenance, and continuous upgrades.
Beyond technology deployment, the collaboration also aims to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s tourism brand through integrated destination marketing campaigns, digital storytelling, promotional initiatives, tourism events, on-ground activations, and strategic branding programmes that will increase the state’s visibility among domestic and international travellers.
Speaking about the partnership, Jitin Bhatia, Founder & CEO of Explurger, said:
“Travel is about discovering stories, cultures, and experiences—not just reaching a destination. With NiVU, we’re harnessing the power of conversational AI to make every journey more personal, intuitive, and engaging. Our partnership with Andhra Pradesh Tourism represents a new vision for the future of tourism—one where artificial intelligence enhances every traveller’s experience while empowering destinations with real-time insights and smarter decision-making. Together, we’re creating a model that has the potential to inspire tourism destinations across the world.”
The collaboration marks a defining milestone in the evolution of tourism, bringing together heritage, technology, and artificial intelligence to create richer visitor experiences and smarter destination management. By combining AI-driven assistance with destination intelligence and digital innovation, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Explurger are not only transforming travel within the state but also establishing a new global benchmark for the future of AI-powered tourism.
To learn more about this landmark initiative and upcoming deployments of NiVU across Andhra Pradesh, visit www.explurger.com and download the app-https://apps.explurger.com/iaX7/1s9kaljb
