AP Tourism to fast-track ‘Mission 45’ projects

Andhra Pradesh Tourism is planning to fast-track the implementation of ‘Mission 45’, which is a group of 45 projects identified by the tourism department, under the state’s attractive Liberal Land lease Policy and Public Private Partnership. Investments in these projects, pertaining to multiple segments – amusement parks, hotels, convocation centers, MICE facilities among others, are a win-win for investors owing to the incentives offered under the land lease policy of AP Government. A detailed plan of action was sketched out for each project during Andhra Pradesh Tourism’s 3-day meeting in Vijayawada with all the Regional Directors of Tourism and other senior government officials. The department intends to roll out the RFPs for each of them in the next 10 to 15 days. Emphasising on the need to be fully prepared to cater to the demand from the upcoming tourist season, it was decided that substantial effort would be undertaken to ensure that all the tourist centric facilities such as APTDC properties, water sport facilities, house boats etc. are fully functional to cater to the needs of the tourists. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Srikant Nagulapalli, Secretary to Government, Tourism & Culture, Dr. R.P. Khajuria, Commissioner, Department of Tourism and M. Girija Shankar, Managing Director, AP Tourism Development Corporation, Government of Andhra Pradesh. World’s oldest aircraft carrier-ship, INS Viraat, which will be decommissioned by the Indian Navy later this year, is slotted to be berthed at the Vizag Coast by mid-2017. In view of this and to create necessary infrastructure to successfully berth the warship, the department will very soon issue notification for the selection of renowned consultants from domestic as well as international fields for drafting DPR to  select well-established corporations who would construct Marina and develop INS Viraat a key tourist destination of global standards. Nagulapalli said “We are witnessing a lot of traction from tourists who visit Andhra Pradesh for business, education and pilgrimage.  Our approach is very simple, while on hand we aim to sustain the footfalls that we are already receiving on the other we intend to create a tourism-friendly environment which would attract more and more tourists to the state going forward.”
“Besides undertaking a host of tourist-friendly initiatives we are putting considerable emphasis on creating better wayside amenities across all the tourist hubs for the comfort and convenience of the visitors,” he added.