Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh interacting with Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu at the inaugural of the Regional Tourism Investors’ meet in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
The Regional Tourism Investors Meet, held here on Monday, highlighted the immense potential for tourism in Visakhapatnam city and North Andhra and stressed the need to effectively promote these places to attract national and international tourists. Eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) worth ₹1,217 crore were signed at the meeting.
The chief guest, Minister for Tourism and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh, said that the scenic beauty and several tourist attractions of North Andhra Pradesh and Visakhapatnam city can attract a large number of tourists from India. He said the State government was taking all steps to tap the region’s tourism potential.
A new tourism policy has been announced by the State government to encourage tourists to stay for more days and visit the tourist places. He agreed with the observation made by Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu earlier said that tourists were returning from Visakhapatnam the same evening due to the lack of proper accommodation and entertainment at the tourist spots.
The Minister said the government is considering amending the liquor policy and allowing hotel bars to stay open late at night. A cruise terminal has been opened at Vizag Port to provide tourists with entertainment, he added.
Mr. Durgesh urged investors to develop compelling project proposals and assured them that the State government would provide them with the necessary assistance.
Referring to Mr. Patrudu’s suggestion, Mr. Durgesh said a Single Window would be opened within one month for the disposal of project proposals. The officials would be asked to inform the investors whether their proposal was approved and give reasons for the decision. He said the MoUs signed on Monday reflected the investors’ confidence in the State government. He said that tourism projects would be extended the concessions which were being given to the industry.
Earlier, Mr. Patrudu said that there was immense potential in the Vizag region, but somewhere, something was lacking. He called upon officials to treat investors with respect and strive to cooperate in the implementation of the projects.
Visakhapatnam Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad elaborated on the vast tourist potential of Vizag in beach tourism, cruise tourism, medical tourism, wellness tourism, Buddhist heritage sites and temple circuit in North Andhra.
Ajay Jain Special Chief Secretary to Government, Tourism and Culture Department, Amrapali Kata, Managing Director, APTDC and CEO, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, Collectors A.S. Dinesh Kumar (ASR district) Vijaya Krishnan (Anakapalli), Kalpana Kumari GCC VC & MD, A.A.L. Padmavathi, Executive Director (Operations), APTDC Ltd, R.V. Swamy, president, Andhra Pradesh State Hotels Association, K. Vijay Mohan, president, AP Tours and Travel Association, Sunil Babu, Officer-in-Charge, Regional Coffee Research Station, RV Nagar, ASR District and Ravi Kumar, Secretary, EAMA (Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Event Industry) were among those who attended.
Published – January 27, 2025 11:01 pm IST
