Whitepaper On Vizag’s Tourism Potential On Anvil

Boasting Tourism

♦ Tourism industry contributes over $178 bn to India’s GDP

♦ Granting industry status to tourism sector crucial for attracting investments

♦ Visakhapatnam boasts diverse range of niche tourism products

Visakhapatnam: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a leading industry body and JLL India, a global real estate services firm, will be releasing a White Paper on scope and opportunities for development of tourism in Visakhapatnam region.

With the Andhra Pradesh government expected to unveil its new tourism policy with focus on promotion of theme-based sustainable tourism, CII is making arrangements to host a Tourism Summit in the city after overwhelming response to its Infrastructure Summit held recently. The Infrastructure Summit, the first in the series of several high-level conclaves planned by CII, was attended among others, by IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh and R&B Minister BC Janardhan Reddy.

During a brief interview with Bizz Buzz, Grandhi Rajesh, CII Visakhapatnam Zone Chairman said they will be hosting the Tourism Summit on October 25. Several key stakeholders have been invited to attend the summit.

India’s travel and tourism industry contributes over $178 billion to the nation’s GDP, and its growth is essential for economic development in North Andhra Pradesh. Tourism has significant potential to boost the economy in the Visakhapatnam region by enhancing local employment, improving infrastructure, and preserving cultural heritage. The sector stimulates growth in hospitality, transportation, and retail, creating a multiplier effect on the regional economy, he said.

Rajesh, who is a managing partner at Integral Trading & Logistics, said granting industry status to the tourism and hospitality sector is crucial for attracting investments and accelerating growth. Visakhapatnam boasts a diverse range of niche tourism products, including cruise, adventure, medical and wellness, MICE, eco-tourism, film, rural, and religious tourism. Industry status would incentivize substantial investments in these areas, enhance competitiveness, and allow various sub-sectors to access benefits like lower power tariffs and industrial tax rates, thereby reducing costs for capital-intensive hospitality projects.

The anticipated industry status and special tourism policy from the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh underscore thetourism sector’s importance as a driver of economic growth. Addressing skill gaps through public-private partnerships (PPP), aligning curricula, and establishing training centers in Visakhapatnam will help create a skilled workforce for the region.

Smart tourism initiatives that incorporate fusion technology and cultural heritage will significantly enhance visitor experiences in North Andhra Pradesh. To highlight the importance of tourism in the region, CII Visakhapatnam is organising a Tourism Summit on October 25, focusing on public-private partnerships, sustainable tourism practices, and innovative strategies to showcase the region’s attractions,he stated.

Coinciding with the summit, CII and JLL will release a white paper that emphasizes Visakhapatnam’s potential as a burgeoning tourism destination in Andhra Pradesh. The report, he pointed out, will provide an overview of the local tourism sector, identify current and emerging focus areas, recommend strategies for development, and pinpoint key investment opportunities across various tourism segments.