Andhra Pradesh CM unveils new program for active tourism promotion

The CM on the occasion also felicitated the winners of State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards (2015-16).

Recently the steering committee on Greenfield Airports headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has given ‘in principle’ approval to three new airport projects in Andhra Pradesh in Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakallu (Kurnool).

To further promote tourism around Bhavani Island the government is also forming a Special Purpose Vehicle called Bhavani Island Tourism Company which will be actively engaged in planning and development of islands in River Krishna and river front on its banks. Government will also construct 9 jetties along the coast for Andhra to cater to tourism.

Speaking on the occasion, N. Chandrababu Naidu said “Andhra Pradesh has one of the finest networks of rail, road, ports and airports through which one can reach every nook and corner of the state in the shortest span of time and with utmost convenience. In sync with this year’s theme - Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility we endeavour to extend all the facilities to all sections of the society including specially abled people, young children, senior citizens thereby creating an environment of convenience and comfort for all our tourists.”

“Every economic indicator clearly points out that the road ahead for Andhra Pradesh is very bright and the in the coming days the state with flourish in all the aspects be it job creation, exports, investments etc. Our policies need to be redesigned in accordance with the requirements and we need to innovate ourselves continually and only then will we be able to fulfil our potential,” he said.

With an aim to promote Andhra cuisine to international and global platter the state government will host a Culinary Olympics next year in Visakhapatnam and within six months traditional Andhra cuisines such as ‘Pootharekulu’ etc. will be developed through R&D at international level.

The Department of Tourism is also planning to organise ‘Pulasa Panadaga’ at Kakinada in November this year and ‘Rayalaseema Ruchulu’ in January 2017.

Motivated with an overall agenda to promote tourism in the state, AP will constitute a statutory Board for Tourism, Culture and Heritage in place of the existing departments of Tourism, Culture and Archaeology with separate Authorities for Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

The state which has set out with a rejuvenated outlook to actively realise its tourism potential, is also inviting its citizens to participate in creating a new logo for AP Tourism.

Banking on a hub and spoke model with the concept of ‘one destination leading to many destinations’, the state has segregated itself to 5 major tourism hubs - Anathapuram (Srisailam), Tirupati-Nellore, Kakinada-Konaseema-Rajamundhry, Amravati and Vishakapattinam. The state also has immense investment opportunities in hotels, capacity building for human resource etc.