AP to spend big to promote tourism on a grand scale

Vijayawada: The State Government has decided to aggressively pursue promoting Brand Andhra Pradesh to improve tourism infrastructure.

While trying to woo private investors in a big way, the government has directed the officials to optimise the availing of Central schemes to get funding mainly to give a fillip to temple tourism and ecotourism. Sustainable tourism has been made a thrust area in the tourism policy unveiled by TDP-led NDA Government. Industry status has been accorded to hospitality sector to attract more investors in the new policy.

Setting a target of 20 per cent growth rate in the tourism sector in 2025-26, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at review meeting on Thursday said within six months of the TDP-led NDA coming to power MoUs have been signed with various companies regarding investments worth Rs1,217 crore.

He discussed with officials on tourism events, cultural events, construction of hotel rooms, investments, land lease policy and homestays.

Informing the meeting that 11 tourism resorts and hotels have been revived with an investment of Rs45 crore in these six months, the Chief Minister said that Annavaram temple has been selected under Prasad scheme of the Centre. Under Special Assistance to States under Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, Gandikota and Akhanda Godavari are selected while Araku and Lambasingi will get funds under Swadesh Darshan-2.0. Ahobilam and Nagarjuna Sagar have been sanctioned funds under the Challenge-Based Destination Development scheme.

The officials told the Chief Minister that a Tourism Events Calendar is being designed for 2025-26 to attract tourists. As part of this programme, two key international events and 12 mega events are being organised as part of 37 tourism events, they informed the Chief Minister.

Naidu suggested that mega events and key events can be organised on university campuses while musicals can be integrated with events.

He said year-long programmes should be organised at Shilparamams of Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati. He also advised the officers to exercise on distribution of Nandi Awards. Gandikota is famous in the country for water, rock-formations and extensive greenery, he said and wanted it to be promoted further to attract tourists.

The Kadapa Darga and the Ontimitta Ramalayam along with Somasila areas too should be developed as tourist destinations, the Chief Minister said and added that Srisailam should be further developed. The traditional houses that are still existing in villages be modernised, he said and made it clear that the quality of food being supplied at tourism hotels be improved.

Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, APTDC Chairman Nukasani Balaji and officials were present.