Tour operators are brand ambassadors of Andhra Pradesh tourism, says Minister

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh has said that the New Tourism Policy 2024 to 2029 accords apical precedence to investors, with tourism being granted manufacture status, hold of subsidies, reimbursement of SGST and exemption from stamp duty.

He was speaking arsenic the main impermanent astatine the inauguration of a two-day National Travel Mart organised jointly by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India astatine PM Palem successful Visakhapatnam connected Friday evening.

Describing circuit operators arsenic marque ambassadors for the promotion of tourism successful Andhra Pradesh, helium said the mart was aimed astatine showcasing coastal tourism, tribal circuits, taste and practice destinations, ecotourism and escapade tourism successful the State. Tour operators, edifice groups and question experts from crossed the state participated successful the event.

Mr. Durgesh said peculiar accent was being laid connected coordination with neighbouring States to beforehand tourer destinations mutually. Referring to the Dandakaranya forests successful neighbouring Chhattisgarh, which find notation successful the Ramayana, helium said specified linkages could beryllium leveraged to make integrated tourism circuits.

Stating that agreements had been signed for 117 projects worthy ₹20,088 crore successful the past 18 months, helium said the projects were expected to make 1,22,637 employment opportunities. Approvals were being accorded done a azygous model strategy nether the Speed of Business argumentation of the State government, helium added.

He said aboriginal initiatives see promotion of caravan tourism betwixt Visakhapatnam and Araku, instauration of a furniture and meal argumentation and improvement of structure cities.

Chhattisgarh Tourism Development Corporation president Neelu Sharma, APTDC Chairman Nookasani Balaji, Special Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ajay Jain, and APTDC Managing Director and CEO Amrapali were among those present.