Andhra Pradesh Moves to Introduce Ultra-Luxury Cruise Boats to Boost Tourism

The Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (APSTDC) has granted preliminary approvals to the operators. The corporation will also construct five jetties at two locations and provide electricity infrastructure for the boats. The operators will obtain mandatory Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) approvals for the designs before commencing construction. Officials said the boats are expected to be operational by October 2026.

The government has been working for the past year to introduce Kerala-style luxury backwater tourism in the state through private participation. Accordingly, interested firms were invited. One company already operating similar services in Kerala, in partnership with an Andhra Pradesh-based firm, has proposed to operate two luxury boats between Berm Park and Pavitra Sangamam. A detailed survey covering nearly 20 km has already been conducted for this route.

One of the proposed boats will feature five bedrooms and a conference hall with a capacity of 100 people, while the second boat is being designed to host dinner for up to 200 guests. The boats will be anchored at Bhavani Island during night halts, where a jetty and power facilities will be provided.

In Bapatla district, private operators will run three luxury boats in the Suryalanka Beach backwaters from Nagaraju Canal to Nizampatnam. The boats will have nine, three and two bedrooms respectively, offering tourists a nearly 30-km backwater cruise through scenic locations identified along the route.

Meanwhile, the tourism development corporation is conducting feasibility surveys to introduce similar ultra-deluxe boat services through private operators in the Godavari river stretches at Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada, along the Visakhapatnam coast, and at Nagarjunasagar. Once the studies are completed, interested firms will be invited to participate.