AP Bets Big on Tourism-led Growth
Spiritual tourism is also being strengthened by improving facilities and connectivity to major shrines including the Tirumala, Srisailam and Kanaka Durga temples.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is aggressively pushing tourism as a major growth engine for the state economy, with large-scale investments, international hospitality projects and new tourism circuits expected to generate over 1.22 lakh jobs in the coming years.
Guided by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision that tourism would emerge as a sustainable economic driver, the government has rolled out the AP Tourism Policy 2024-29 with a focus on public-private partnerships, industrial status for tourism and investor-friendly incentives.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has also been providing key suggestions for strengthening tourism infrastructure and its promotion across the state.
Officials said investment proposals worth more than `20,000 crore have come to the state in the last two years, while 117 MoUs are expected to create employment for 1,22,637 people.
International hotel chains including Taj Hotels, Marriott International, ITC Hotels, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Hilton Hotels & Resorts are preparing their projects for the state, adding 7,770 hotel rooms.
The government is developing seven major tourism hubs at Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley, Amaravati, Gandikota and Tirupati besides promoting cruise tourism, heli-tourism, caravan tourism, eco-resorts, floating houseboats and water sports.
Spiritual tourism is also being strengthened by improving facilities and connectivity to major shrines including the Tirumala, Srisailam and Kanaka Durga temples.
Tourism festivals such as Vijayawada Utsav, Visakha Utsav, Araku Chali Utsav and Flamingo Festival have boosted footfall and local employment. The historic Jaggannathota Prabala Utsavam in Konaseema was accorded state festival status, attracting lakhs of visitors.
The tourism department said tourist arrivals rose by 10.10 per cent over the previous year, while foreign tourist numbers surged by 126.87 per cent. Andhra Pradesh tourism received recognition from NITI Aayog and participated in several national and international tourism expos.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs.428 crore for eight tourism infrastructure projects across the state under various schemes, with the government targeting their completion by July, 2026.
Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh said Andhra Pradesh offered immense opportunities for tourism investment and assured full government support to entrepreneurs.