Vijayawada: Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh has admitted that coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) rules have become a hurdle for development of tourism along the beaches in Andhra Pradesh. He said that state govt will request the Centre to grant relaxations at specific locations where tourism is expected to be developed.
Responding to the queries of members in the assembly on Monday, Durgesh said that govt is readying a comprehensive master plan for the development of tourism in the state. He added that chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is very keen to revive the past glory of tourism sector as he believes that only tourism is going to revive the state’s fortunes.
“We have identified about 27 tourism circuits for focused development. While five circuits have been planned for beach tourism development, another four circuits will be developed on riverfront tourism,” said Durgesh.
The tourism minister narrated that several proposed developmental projects were stalled in Visakhapatnam-Rishikonda-Bheemili region due to the stringent CRZ rules. He said that CM Naidu had also agreed to discuss the issue with the Union ministers to get the required changes in the CRZ bracket. He added that moving from CRZ-III to CRZ-II could help initiate some projects.
Moreover, Durgesh said the previous regime had destroyed the image of the beach sector and also scared away investors from the state. He mentioned that govt is working overtime to convince investors with a promise to provide fullest support.
Durgesh said that he recently visited Germany to meet global players in the tourism sector and received an overwhelming response from different players. He narrated that govt had decided to promote wellness centres along the coast based on the feedback received from the global firms in the tourism sector. He also said that govt has released detailed tourism policy with several incentives to the promoters, and that they would take up Dhyana Budha project at the historical Buddhist site Ghantasala in Krishna district.
The tourism minister said that the Centre had also promised to include several historical Buddhist locations in the state in the proposed Buddhist circuit for development of infrastructure. He promised senior member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy to take up development of Koduru beach in Nellore district with the support of the Centre and private investors.
Responding to the queries of members in the assembly on Monday, Durgesh said that govt is readying a comprehensive master plan for the development of tourism in the state. He added that chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is very keen to revive the past glory of tourism sector as he believes that only tourism is going to revive the state’s fortunes.
“We have identified about 27 tourism circuits for focused development. While five circuits have been planned for beach tourism development, another four circuits will be developed on riverfront tourism,” said Durgesh.
The tourism minister narrated that several proposed developmental projects were stalled in Visakhapatnam-Rishikonda-Bheemili region due to the stringent CRZ rules. He said that CM Naidu had also agreed to discuss the issue with the Union ministers to get the required changes in the CRZ bracket. He added that moving from CRZ-III to CRZ-II could help initiate some projects.
Moreover, Durgesh said the previous regime had destroyed the image of the beach sector and also scared away investors from the state. He mentioned that govt is working overtime to convince investors with a promise to provide fullest support.
Durgesh said that he recently visited Germany to meet global players in the tourism sector and received an overwhelming response from different players. He narrated that govt had decided to promote wellness centres along the coast based on the feedback received from the global firms in the tourism sector. He also said that govt has released detailed tourism policy with several incentives to the promoters, and that they would take up Dhyana Budha project at the historical Buddhist site Ghantasala in Krishna district.
The tourism minister said that the Centre had also promised to include several historical Buddhist locations in the state in the proposed Buddhist circuit for development of infrastructure. He promised senior member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy to take up development of Koduru beach in Nellore district with the support of the Centre and private investors.
