The AP government signed agreements with eight companies at the regional tourism investors’ summit held at Novotel in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, APTDC Chairman Nookasani Balaji, MD and VC Amrapali revealed that through these, an investment of Rs. 1,217 crore will be made available, 825 hotel rooms will be made available in various areas, and 2,667 people will be provided employment.
Minister Durgesh said that Visakhapatnam will be developed as a cruise hub, and the city will become a real hub for entertainment and tourism. He said that he is working with the aim of making 50,000 rooms available for tourists in the state in the next five years.
He said that the coalition government has recognized the tourism sector as an industry and all the subsidies given to industries will be applied. He said that permissions will be given within a month of applying through the single window.
The Minister said that the State Hoteliers Association had brought to their attention that the bar license fee in hotels was not doing business due to the Rs. 66 lakhs, and when the matter was explained to CM Chandrababu Naidu, who agreed to reduce it to Rs. 20 lakhs and that orders would be issued soon. He also said that permission would also be given to keep hotels open till late night.
The Minister, along with Speaker Ayyannapatrudu and officials, unveiled the poster of the ‘Araku Chilli Festival’ to be held in Araku Valley from 31st of this month to 2nd of February. About 150 investors participated in the summit.
Participating as a guest, Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu deplored that the tourism sector in the state is not developing at the expected level, and that the shortcomings should be corrected and investors should be supported with a positive attitude. He said that the wonderful Visakhapatnam is not developing at the level of other tourist destinations in the country.
He said that tourists get support only when they are given what they expect. He said that thousands of tourists come to Lambasingi every day, but they do not have proper accommodation, food and lodging. He said that due to the 1/70 Act in the agency, others are not coming forward to invest. He said that there is also an agency in Coorg in Karnataka, and he wanted the authorities to know how the investments were possible there.
