Andhra Pradesh is fast emerging as the Cyber Capital
of India. Vision 2020, the vision document
of the State envisages that the State can attract 64 million
foreign tourists by the year 2020.
The Government has now laid down a Tourism Policy,
which seeks to involve private enterprise in exploiting
the tourism potential of the State.
Tourism potential in the State :
- Andra Pradesh has vast unexploited tourism potential.
- A long coastline with excellent beaches, where
resorts can be developed.
- Great scope to develop pilgrim tourism in view
of numerous ancient temples.
- Heritage sites at Warangal and Hyderabad.
- A large number ( about 140 ) of Buddhist Archaeological
sites.
- Eco-Tourism possibilities in forest areas.
Special Tourism Areas:
- Hyderabad and its environs
- Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam region.
- Tirupathi and its surroundings
- Vishakapatnam - Araku region
- Warangal and its surroundings
- Vijayawada - Amaravathi region.
Investor - friendly policies :
New Tourism Policy
- The spirit of the new tourism policy is to enhance
investment opportunities and bring in private investment.
- The path chosen is private sector investment and
partnership of Government and Private sector.
Thrust Areas - Nagarjunasagar, Hyderabad, Warangal,
Vishakapatnam and Tirupathi are identified as Special
Tourism Areas ( STAs ) for intensive development.
Other Tourism Areas - 100 tourist places have been
declared as " Notified Tourism Areas " for development.
Objectives of the policy :
- Promoting Andra Pradesh as the Destination State
of India
- Tourism as a major growth engine
- Acknowledge primacy of the role of the private
sector
- Government working as the facilitator and catalyst
- Direct and multiplier effect for employment generation
and economic growth
- Promoting a co-operative endeavour between public
and private sectors
Incentives and Concessions:
- 20% investment subsidy for all tourism ventures
above an investment of US $ 50,000
- Tax holiday on Sales Tax for tourist units established
in the Special Tourism Areas for a period of five
years, subject to a maximum relief equivalent to fixed
capital
- Projects with above US $ 2.2 million investment
anywhere in the State are treated as special projects.
They will be eligible for special incentives which
are decided on a case-to-case basis
- 100% private investment on leased Government land
( Build-operate-transfer basis )
- Joint venture with Andra Pradesh Tourism initiatives.
The government will affect a major change in its approach
to promote tourism in the sate. The different tourist
segments will be analysed and tailor-made promotions
will be developed for each of them. These promotions
will target mainly tourists with adequate spending power.
Private investments are sought in key destinations
to build hotels, retail outlets, transportation services,
leisure centres like mini-golf courses, bowling alleys,
entertainment parks, theatres, health clubs etc.
It will consider setting up of a joint venture government-
business promotion board and allowing this board to
hire professional advertising agencies and public relations
companies to promote Andra Pradesh. Some of the other
measures planned include review of incentives for the
private sector, setting up single window clearance for
tourism projects and identifying and implementing tourist-friendly
initiatives such as information kiosks, metered taxis
and air-conditioned coaches and tourist police at important
centres.
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Economy
