AP CM unveils tourism policy, inks deals with stakeholders

• Claims that more Rs6,000 crore worth investments have already poured in to tap tourism potential in the State
• Assures approval of tourism projects across the table

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the State government is planning to tap Rs 10,000 crore investment in tourism sector to develop Andhra Pradesh as number one tourist destination. After launching Tourism Mission and Tourism Policy 2015-20, here on Monday, the CM disclosed that immediately after announcing the new tourism policy investments to a tune of nearly Rs 6,000 crore poured in from the stakeholders.

Naidu said tourism projects will be cleared across the table and said that AP has great tourism potential and said the government provided several incentives to promote tourism including reducing of VAT from 14 to 5 per cent in new tourism policy. He said at present temple tourism is more in the State so temple towns should be developed as growth engines.

He said there is need to develop water tourism as there are beautiful water bodies in Konaseema in East Godavari and Krishna district and are planning in a big way to beautify canals in Vijayawada city. Naidu stressed the need for improving service sector to provide more employment opportunities in the State and assured to develop AP as logistic hub as it has 950 km of coast line and best ports.

The CM appealed to local people to enhance their entrepreneurship skills to become part of development. Even though, people from other States are coming forward to develop several tourism projects in the State, but government would prefer local people to join in, he added. Describing AP as a happening place, the CM said that the government is ready to help the entrepreneurs and they should concentrate on grounding their projects immediately.

Earlier Principal Secretary, Tourism Neerab Kumar Prasad explained about various measures included in new tourism policy to promote tourism in the State. He said large number of entrepreneurs came forward to invest in tourism sector due to our best tourism policy.

Deputy Speaker Mandali Budha Prasad said that there is great potential to promote Buddhist tourism in the State and said there is chance to promote temple tourism and beach tourism at Hamsaladeevi.

Later several stakeholders entered into an MoU with AP government over grounding tourism projects including hotels, beach resorts, adventure tourism projects, water sports tourism projects, heritage tourism, heli-tourism and others. MP Kesineni Srinivas, Communications advisor Parakala Prabhakar and others were present.

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