AP tourist footfall witnesses 21% growth

Vijayawada: Tourist footfall in Andhra Pradesh witnessed a 21% growth in the current year as against 31 crore last year. To further promote tourism and development of tourist destinations, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asked for formation of a dedicated tourism board or committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary. The committee will strengthen inter-departmental coordination, as it involves departments such as tourism, forests, endowments, police and marine, he noted.In a review meeting with tourism department officials, Naidu directed them to fast-track the availability of hotel rooms and homestays in line with the steady rise in tourist footfall, setting a target of 50,000 hotel rooms in the state by 2029. He also asked officials to make more than 10,000 homestays operational across tourist destinations.Instructing officials to ensure early grounding of tourism projects approved by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), Naidu stressed the need to attract national and international hotel brands to major tourist locations and cities. He asked the department to step up the development of homestays in Rajamahendravaram and other locations ahead of the Godavari Pushkarams, and directed that a rating system be introduced for homestay operations.The chief minister called for establishment of caravan parks at 10 to 15 locations, including Araku, Chintapalli, Munchingiputtu, Gandhivanam, and Maredumilli, with basic infrastructure to allow families to safely park caravans and access nature-based experiences. Similar facilities were suggested near experience centres across the state.He further directed officials to prepare an action plan for amusement parks in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam and to promote eco and temple tourism through coordinated projects involving the forest and endowments departments. Projects taken up under the Prasad and Swadesh Darshan schemes should be completed by May, he said. Officials said proposals seeking ₹663 crore were submitted to the Centre.Naidu asked for further integration of temple tourism by linking major shrines and directed the preparation of a specific plan for the development of Suryalanka beach, along with beautification of tanks in Tirupati, canals in Amaravati region, and select urban spaces across the state.