In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority and ride-hailing platform Rapido have launched a Driver-cum-Guide programme to train drivers as certified tourist guides.
The initiative was officially launched at APTDC Yatri Nivas in Visakhapatnam and aims to train more than 1,000 drivers across Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati.
Drivers to receive tourism training
Officials said the Visakhapatnam phase alone will cover around 350 drivers.
Under the programme, drivers will undergo six hours of structured training covering destination knowledge, service etiquette, itinerary planning, and tourism guidance skills.
Each participant will receive a bilingual English-Telugu handbook prepared by the tourism authority featuring verified tourist destinations and curated travel circuits across Andhra Pradesh.
Certified drivers to offer guided tours
After certification, drivers will be onboarded onto the Rapido platform for tourism-based bookings.
Tourists will reportedly be able to book guided city tours ranging from four-hour rides to full-day travel circuits.
Officials described the initiative as the first instance in India where a ride-hailing platform has partnered directly with a state tourism authority to offer guided tourism services.
Initiative aims to strengthen tourism sector
The programme originates from a memorandum of understanding signed between N. Chandrababu Naidu and Rapido’s founder during the Partnership Summit held in November 2025.
Authorities said the initiative aims to bridge a long-standing gap in the tourism sector by improving local travel experiences while also creating additional earning opportunities for drivers.
Tourism officials believe the programme could improve visitor convenience and promote lesser-known destinations through trained local guides.