Vijayawada: Special chief secretary to government (tourism and culture) Rajat Bhargava has instructed officials to expedite all works pertaining to development of tourism across the state.
He was reviewing the ongoing activities of the tourism department with the managing director of APTDC and other tourism department Officials here on Friday.
Bhargava said that Andhra Pradesh was blessed with the country's second longest coastline (974 kms), perennial rivers, scenic backwaters and Eastern Ghats that run parallel to the coast line. He said that they were committed to utilize all the natural geographical features and develop all possible themes like river tourism, eco-tourism and adventure tourism.
Apart from developing Visakhapatnam - Bheemili - Bhogapuram to bolster the beach corridor, efforts were on to redevelop Rushikonda Beach Resort as a world-class tourist destination, he said. The work, which has commenced, will be completed by next year.
The proposed extension of beach road from Bheemili to Bhogapuram is being taken up by the Infrastructure and Investments department. The tourism department will give a boost to adventure sports along the proposed Beach Corridor. Seaplane terminals at Bheemili Beach and Bhogapuram beach, eco-tourism project at the beach adjoining forest land, resorts, floating restaurant, eco-camps, an international convention centre with a golf course will be integral to the beach corridor tourism project, he said.
Converting the MV Maa cargo vessel into a floating restaurant under which the stranded Bangladeshi ship MV MAA near Thenneti Park will be another tourist attraction against a projected cost of `10.50 crore.
A multi-themed tunnel aquarium is coming up at Thotlakonda Beach with an estimated investment of `163 crore through PPP mode under Tourism Policy 2020 – 2025.
Facilities will be upgraded along the beach corridor from Kailasagiri to Bhogapuram, and Sagar Nagar, Thimmapuram, Mangamaripeta, Chepaluppada,
INS Kalinga, Erramatti Dibbalu, Bheemunipatnam, Nagayampalem, Annavaram, Kancherupalem.
As part of development of eco-tourism in forest areas, high-end resorts are proposed at Maredumilli in East Godavari district, Lambasingi in Visakhapatnam district and Jagathipalli in Srikakulam district.
A floating restaurant is proposed on Krishna River between Berm Park and Bhavani Island at Vijayawada.
All amenities for tourists are provided at Amaravati and Srisailam temples with financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Tourism under the PRASHAD Scheme.
