Latest news with #AndhraPradeshTourismConclaveTechAI2.0
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
APTDC signs MoUs worth Rs 10.3k crore at tourism conclave
VIJAYAWADA: In a significant boost to the tourism sector, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) signed 82 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for investments amounting to Rs 10,329 crore during the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0. The MoUs, signed in the presence of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, span wellness, eco-tourism, caravan tourism, hospitality infrastructure, homestays, and digital solutions. Launching the AP Tourism Digital Calendar, the Chief Minister said the investments reflect restored confidence in the State's governance and vision. 'Tourism is not just an economic activity; it is a tool for empowerment, employment, and environment-friendly development,' he said. Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh said the partnerships align with the 2024–29 Tourism Policy, which grants industrial status to the sector. The policy offers 100% stamp duty exemption, electricity duty reimbursement, SGST incentives, and fast-tracked approvals. The MoUs include plans for luxury resorts, spiritual circuits, heritage restoration, medical and wellness tourism. APTDC MD Amrapali Kata said real-time dashboards will monitor project milestones and investor facilitation to ensure transparency and accountability. GFST Director Ch Kutumba Rao and Vice Chairman SP Tucker said the State is poised to lead in tourism-driven development.
New Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Minister Durgesh asks investors to back Andhra Pradesh's tourism vision
VIJAYAWADA: Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh called on investors to partner with the Andhra Pradesh government in transforming the State into a world-class tourism hub by 2047. Speaking on the second day of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0 in Vijayawada on Friday, Durgesh said tourism development is a top priority for the coalition government led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He highlighted that Andhra Pradesh offers an investment-friendly ecosystem and the government is open to ideas and committed to providing support. 'We have granted industrial status to tourism, introduced a new tourism policy for 2024–29, and are paving the way for sustainable, responsible, and tech-enabled tourism,' he said. The minister highlighted the State's 974-km coastline, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage, saying these assets will be showcased globally. He said hundreds of crores have been sanctioned under central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASAD, and CBDD. Key initiatives include the `94.44 crore Akhanda Godavari Tourism Project and upcoming policies in eco and adventure tourism. He also emphasised branding, marketing, tech enablement, and the creative economy. Calling on investors to 'forget the shadows of the past', Durgesh described tourism as a powerful tool for economic growth, cultural promotion, and employment.
New Indian Express
21 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Explore Andhra Pradesh, Ramdev urges tourists
VIJAYAWADA: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev urged Indians travelling to Paris, Switzerland, or Turkey to explore scenic destinations within Andhra Pradesh instead. Speaking during the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0 in Vijayawada on Friday, he hailed Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu as the most visionary leader in the country. 'No one in India works with such public interest, creativity, productivity, and professionalism. Chandrababu is a divine gift to the Telugu people,' Ramdev said. Responding to the Chief Minister's request to promote tourism and serve as an advisor to wellness centres, Ramdev announced that Patanjali would establish a world-class wellness centre in Horsley Hills and is keen to launch a destination wedding cruise boat project in Dindi. He said Patanjali is willing to actively promote Andhra Pradesh tourism if granted permission. As a symbolic gesture, he presented holy Ganga water from Haridwar to the Chief Minister. Later, Naidu and Baba Ramdev jointly flagged off tourism caravans converted into mobile hotel rooms.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Naidu unveils vision to make A.P. a global tourism destination
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.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
AP aims Rs. 25,000 cr private investment in tourism sector
The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) managing Director and Vice-Chairperson Amrapali Kata announced that the state government aims to transform Andhra Pradesh into a global tourism hub, focusing on religious, spiritual, coastal, ecological, and wellness experiences while empowering local communities and promoting sustainable development. Speaking at the two-day Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0, which began on Thursday at a city hotel, Kata addressed investors from across India who discussed investment prospects and tourism development strategies for the state. She outlined the AP Tourism Mission to attract Rs 25,000 crore in private investments by 2029. Kata highlighted Andhra Pradesh's tourism achievements, noting its 4th rank in domestic tourist arrivals with a 32 per cent increase from 2022 to 2023, 2nd rank in backwater resources, and 3rd longest coastline in India. The state also boasts 13 wildlife sanctuaries, three national parks, and one of India's largest tiger reserves. Quoting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, she said, 'All isms — Capitalism, Communism, Socialism — will become insignificant; the only relevant 'ism' is tourism.' APTDC chairman N Balaji emphasised the state's new tourism policy, describing it as innovative and progressive, aimed at developing world-class tourism by leveraging Andhra Pradesh's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. He highlighted plans to promote ecological, adventure, and spiritual tourism while adopting eco-friendly practices, including avoiding single-use plastics at tourist destinations. Balaji stressed the adoption of best practices, fast-tracked permissions, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence and digital services to enhance Andhra Pradesh's tourism branding. He underscored the importance of private sector partnerships and MoUs with national and international organizations to boost infrastructure development. 'Collaboration is the catalyst for transformation, and building infrastructure is our top priority,' he said, emphasising the need to integrate local communities to promote rural tourism and hospitality excellence. The first day of the conclave featured panel discussions on key tourism drivers, Creative Economy, Products & Projects, Investments, Capacity Building, Branding and Communications, and Technology in Tourism. The state signed MoUs with nearly 80 leading investors, committing over Rs 10,140 crore to transform tourism infrastructure. These projects are expected to create over 22,325 direct and indirect jobs and add approximately 7,439 hotel rooms across Andhra Pradesh in the next four years, significantly enhancing the state's capacity to become a premier tourism destination. The MoUs also include partnerships in homestays, cruises, adventure sports, and water professionals and stakeholders from various tourism sub-sectors, along with prominent national and international brands, participated to shape a robust tourism development strategy for the state. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will attend the concluding day of the conclave to provide further guidance to the tourism sector.
