Naidu unveils vision to make A.P. a global tourism destination

The Hindu

8 hours ago

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday unveiled an ambitious vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a global leader in tourism.
Addressing a gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at 'Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0' in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister described tourism as the engine of future growth and emphasised its central role in driving economic transformation, employment generation, and cultural promotion. As many as 82 MoUs worth ₹10,329 crore were signed at the conclave.
Speaking about the need to promote yoga and natural wellness, Mr. Naidu said Andhra Pradesh will be the wellness and happiness destination of the future. He invited yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who was present on the occasion, to promote wellness tourism in the State and take on an advisory role.
Tourism, the only '-ism'
Highlighting the tourism sector's transformative power, Mr. Naidu reiterated his oft-repeated line: 'All other 'isms' may fade, but tourism is the only '-ism' that will survive.' He reinforced the idea that tourism is not only a cultural and economic catalyst, but also a sustainable engine for inclusive development.
'Globally, one in every 10 jobs is from tourism,' he pointed out, emphasising the sector's potential to create eight jobs for every ₹1 lakh invested, which is more than IT, manufacturing, or agriculture. He shared plans to increase the sector's employment share from 12% to 15%, and its contribution to GSDP from ₹74,000 crore to ₹2,40,000 crore by 2029.
Empowering communities
Speaking about the inclusive homestay policy, Mr. Naidu said the target was to create 10,000-plus homestays across tribal, rural, coastal, and heritage regions. 'From 19,500 rooms today, we aim to scale up to 50,000 rooms by 2029,' he said.
In the past, his idea was to promote one IT professional in every family, and now he is eager to achieve the 'one family, one entrepreneur' goal. The proposed Ratan Tata Innovation Hub at Amravati would help the government achieve its target, he said.
'Andhra Pradesh has the best temples, and 21 of them generate wealth,' Mr. Naidu said, and cited the gifts of the State including the ancient cities, a 1,000-km coastline, forest reserves and riverine systems like the Godavari and Krishna. 'The government is developing seven anchor hubs at Visakhapatnam, Araku, Rajahmundry, Amaravati, Srisailam, Gandikota, and Tirupati and over 25 thematic circuits, including 10 temple circuits, five coastal, four river routes, two cruises, two Buddhist sites and three eco-tourism trails, he said.
A win-win opportunity
The Chief Minister said the State had designed an investor-friendly Tourism Policy 2024-29, which proved to be a game-changer and shattered the myth that only the wealthy can invest in tourism sector. 'Tourism has now been granted industry status across segments, with incentives like 100% stamp duty exemption, electricity duty reimbursement for five years, SGST reimbursements for up to 15 years, and fast-tracked clearances under the 'Speed of Doing Business' initiative, he said, adding, 'Speed of doing business in real-time will cut red tape. I'm ready to introduce more reforms if needed.'
Mr. Ramdev lauded Mr. Naidu's leadership and his transformative governance. He called for the development of Horsley Hills as an international wellness destination, integrating yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. He also announced plans to set up Patanjali wellness centers across Andhra Pradesh and suggested promoting scenic locations as premium wedding venues, celebrating Indian traditions.
Mr. Naidu responded by promising full support, including an airport at Madanapalle, to boost wellness tourism.
Earlier, the Chief Minister flagged off the Caravan Tourism initiative, offering modern, mobile travel solutions for families and groups. He also released the State Tourism Digital Calendar along with a new brochure, strategy paper, and annual tourism event schedule.
Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, Special Chief Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Ajay Jain, Managing Director of AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) and CEO of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority Amrapali Kata, Director of Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST) Cherukuri Kutumba Rao and its vice-chairman S.P. Tucker and others were present.