117 Firms Invested Rs 30,000 Crore In AP Tourism Sector
KAKINADA: Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh said that following the introduction of a new tourism policy that recognizes tourism as an industry, 117 leading companies have invested Rs 30,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh in the last 20 months, creating 1.22 lakh jobs. He described the period from 2024 to 2026 as a “golden age” for the State.
He said leading hotel chains like Hyatt, Taj, Marriott, Mayfair and others have come forward to set up hotels, restaurants and tourism ventures in Andhra Pradesh. As per the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the tourism sector is being developed into a world-class destination aimed at attracting international tourists under the theme of “healthy, rich and happy” Andhra Pradesh.
Talking to the media in Rajamahendravaram on Saturday, the minister said such large-scale investments have never been witnessed before and the tourism sector is now acting as a major engine of economic development for the state. He said that the NDA government aims to provide employment to 20 lakh people in the next five years and the tourism sector accounts for a significant share.
Durgesh said this is the first time the State has received Rs 428 billion from the Center for eight tourism projects. These include Rs 94.44 crore for Akhanda Godavari project, Rs 77.91 crore for Gandikota development, Rs 97.52 crore for Surya Lanka Beach, Rs 29.88 crore for Borra Caves, Rs 25 crore for Ahobilam development under Challenge-Based Destination Development scheme, Rs 25 crore for Buddhist heritage centers at Nagarjuna Sagar and Rs 25 crore for Annavaram under PRASAD scheme. 25.32 crore.
He said the Center has approved 25 thematic tours, including two Buddhist tours, 10 temple tours, five beach tours, four river cruise routes, three eco-tourism tours, two cruise and seaplane tourism routes and adventure tourism in over 90 locations, besides seven hubs namely Visakhapatnam, Araku, Rajamahendravaram, Amaravati, Srisailam, Tirupati and Gandikota.
Durgesh said houseboat services have already been launched at eight locations on Kerala lines, including Rajamahendravaram and Vijayawada. Cordelia Cruise services connecting Visakhapatnam-Rajamahendravaram-Puducherry have also been launched and the Center has provided liveability gap financing for seaplane tourism.
Rajamahendravaram said that cruise services will be expanded, cruise, helicopter tourism, caravan tourism, tent cities and houseboat services will be expanded in Vijayawada and other regions. As many as 1,855 homestays have been connected to aggregator platforms and will be developed in Manduva Logillu, erstwhile East and West Godavari districts.
Citing Yatri Nivas in Visakhapatnam as an example, the minister said 15 Haritha Hotels were being modernized at a cost of Rs 115 billion through AP Tourism Development Corporation. He added that with the support of Alluri Sitarama Raju district collector Dinesh Kumar, the government will introduce Araku Kouni, a millet-based dish to tourists in the form of Araku Coffee.
