Wooing tourists AP style

■ To attract more tourists, the government is formulating a comprehensive calendar of tourism events for 2025-26. A total of 37 tourism events are planned, including two key international events and 12 mega events. The Chief Minister suggested that these mega events be hosted in collaboration with universities and should integrate musical and cultural components.

■ Year-round cultural programs at Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati Shilparamam

■ Reviving the Nandi Awards and developing an entertainment-focused calendar

■ Sankranti and Ugadi festivals being celebrated across all districts

■ Nine state-level events will be conducted in 10 districts.

KIRANMAI TUTIKA | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to set a 20 per cent growth target for tourism sector for the financial year 2025-26. Officials reported that within six months of the coalition government taking office, investments worth Rs. 1,217 crore had been secured for tourism projects. Additionally, Rs. 45 crore has been allocated for the renovation of 11 tourism resorts and hotels.

During a review meeting on the tourism sector held at the state secretariat on Thursday, Naidu discussed key aspects including tourism events, cultural festivals, hotel infrastructure, investment policies, land lease regulations, and homestay initiatives.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that several projects have been approved under the central government’s PRASAD scheme, including the development of Annavaram Temple. Other projects under various central tourism initiatives include Gandikota and Akhanda Godavari under the SASCI program, Araku and Lambasingi under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and Ahobilam and Nagarjuna Sagar under the Challenge-Based Destination Development scheme.

Naidu also proposed year-round cultural programs at key locations such as Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati Shilparamam. He stressed the importance of reviving the Nandi Awards and developing an entertainment-focused calendar. The event calendar will be structured to cater to different demographics, including children, youth, women, and senior citizens. The cultural programs will include state-level and district-level events, with Sankranti and Ugadi festivals being celebrated across all districts. Additionally, nine state-level events will be conducted in 10 districts.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for enhanced branding of Gandikota, known for its unique blend of water, hills, and forests, which makes it a one-of-a-kind destination in India. Alongside Gandikota, tourism development efforts will focus on Kadapa Dargah, Ontimitta Rama Temple, and Somasila Gandikota, Suryalanka, and Lambasingi as tent city destinations Focus on Srisailam.

Naidu also directed officials to develop Srisailam into a significant pilgrimage and eco-tourism destination. With its combination of the Srisailam Dam, forest reserve, and the historic Mallanna Temple, he sees immense potential for tourism growth. As tourist influx to Srisailam increases, he instructed officials to expand roads and improve traffic management.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister ordered an assessment of the state’s tourism assets and revenue generation potential, directing officials to incentivize investments in high-revenue areas. He suggested that tourism investors should receive immediate incentives through an escrow account mechanism.

Naidu also underscored the importance of promoting natural and traditional cuisine in tourism establishments. He pointed out that several villages in Andhra Pradesh still have traditional houses, which should be modernized while maintaining their cultural essence.

The government plans to introduce organic and natural farming-based food in tourism hotels, ensuring both health benefits for tourists and financial gains for local farmers. To achieve this, the Chief Minister suggested upgrading the skills of local chefs through training programs and emphasized the need for specialized hotel management courses in traditional colleges.

In a major push for eco-tourism, the government plans to develop Gandikota, Suryalanka, and Lambasingi as tent city destinations. These projects are expected to be completed within 90 days. The possibility of constructing ropeways at select locations under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is also being explored.

To boost tourist footfall, the Chief Minister stressed the need for greater awareness and promotion of existing attractions such as the zoos in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, as well as identifying and marketing the state’s numerous waterfalls.

Naidu directed officials to position Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Amaravati, Srisailam, and Tirupati as anchor hubs for tourism. He also called for the introduction of houseboats in Konaseema and further development of the Visakhapatnam beachfront.

The Chief Minister has set a target of four months to implement these initiatives, ensuring that by then, tourists perceive Andhra Pradesh as a “happy state”. He urged officials to prepare an action plan within the next three months to ensure timely execution of the proposed initiatives.

The review meeting was attended by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Nookasani Balaji, and senior government officials.