Andhra Pradesh Eyes Global Tourism Hub Status

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is pursuing an ambitious roadmap to transform its tourism sector into a globally competitive industry through a mix of policy reforms, infrastructure development and investor-friendly initiatives.

This was stated here on Thursday by tourism minister Kandula Durgesh while addressing a delegation of the AP chambers of commerce and industry federation (AP Chambers) at the secretariat.

The delegation submitted a memorandum carrying a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure, attracting investments and enhancing the state's visibility in domestic and international markets.

AP Chambers representatives lauded the government's recent initiatives, including the AP Tourism Policy 2024-29, the tourism land allotment policy and operational guidelines, the beach shack policy and the global promotional campaign “Holiday in AP/Visit AP”.

They said these efforts had boosted investor confidence and created a favourable ecosystem for tourism-led economic growth.

Durgesh said the government was working on both short-term and long-term strategies to elevate AP’s tourism standards. He promised that a meeting with tour operators and AP Chambers representatives would be convened shortly. A detailed study would also be undertaken ahead of the Indian association of tour operators (IATO) convention scheduled for September.

A special review meeting with the tourism department would be held in the second week of July, after which recommendations would be submitted to the CM and the deputy CM.

Among the key proposals submitted by AP Chambers were the formation of a tourism stakeholder advisory council, global promotion of the “Visit AP” campaign through the three million-strong non-resident Andhra community, fast-track approvals for tourism MSME projects below `50 crore and a single-window registration system for homestays.

The federation also proposed development of major tourism circuits, including the Vijayawada-Amaravati-Suryalanka-Pandurangapuram-Odarevu-Chirala beach corridor, the Visakhapatnam-Araku Valley circuit and the Gandikota-Belum Caves-Yaganti circuit. It also sought UNESCO recognition for Lepakshi, Gandikota and Belum Caves, establishment of destination management committees and greater coordination with railways, airlines and cruise operators to promote tourism and pilgrimage circuits.

Durgesh promised the delegation that the pending tourism proposals would be expedited and the AP Chambers' extensive network would be leveraged to promote tourism packages across the state.

The meeting was attended by the chambers president P Bhaskar Rao, president of the AP star hotels association, RV Swamy and other industry representatives.