The State’s tourism sector is poised for substantial growth, with the government focusing on a comprehensive tourism policy aimed at transforming Andhra Pradesh into a premier tourist destination over the next five years, said Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography.
Speaking at the Tourism Investors’ Conference held in Vijayawada on Tuesday, supported by CII and AP Chambers, the minister unveiled the new Tourism Policy for 2024-2029. The conference saw over 200 investors explore opportunities in the tourism sector.
Minister Durgesh assured investors that there would be no hindrances or uncertainties regarding investments in the tourism sector in the state. He stressed that, unlike in previous years when political instability hindered the growth of the tourism industry, the current government is committed to offering strong support and creating a favourable environment for investments. He also emphasised the government’s special focus on tourism, expressing confidence that Andhra Pradesh would soon emerge as the top tourist destination in India.
The Minister outlined the government’s vision of attracting Rs 25,000 crores in tourism investments, with an emphasis on sustainable development, environmental protection, and job creation for the youth. He mentioned that the policy includes various initiatives such as eco-tourism, temple tourism, wellness tourism, village tourism, and adventure tourism, among others. The goal is to increase the number of hotel rooms to 50,000, establish thematic circuits, create anchor hubs, and improve infrastructure to make the state a preferred tourist destination.
Key highlights of the new Tourism Policy include the creation of 3 eco-tourism circuits, 10 temple circuits, 2 Buddhist circuits, 5 beach circuits, 4 river tourism circuits, 2 cruise circuits, and 7 anchor hubs. The policy also focuses on financial growth, sustainable tourism, safety, and employment generation for youth. New incentive schemes for investors have been introduced, and both domestic and international tourism will be promoted by improving infrastructure and offering unique experiences to tourists, encouraging longer stays. The state aims to become one of the top 10 tourist destinations in India and attract the highest number of international tourists. The policy also targets increasing the state’s share of tourism-related employment from 12% to 15% and boosting the sector’s contribution to the Gross Value Added (GVA) from 4.6% to 28%.
The state government has already secured funding for key tourism projects, including the Akhanda Godavari and Gandikota development initiatives, through the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. Minister Durgesh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving the tourism industry, which faced challenges in the past five years, by attracting new investments and creating a sustainable growth model.
During the event, Tourism Secretary V Vinay Chand and Managing Director Amrapali Kata provided a detailed presentation on the new policy, outlining its provisions, incentives, and opportunities for tourism development in the state. They explained the new measures aimed at attracting both national and international investors.
——————————————————
