At the prestigious ADTOI National Travel Mart 2026 held in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTIDC) presented an ambitious roadmap positioning the state as India’s next global tourism powerhouse.
Addressing industry stakeholders, the Chairman of APTIDC emphasized that tourism development cannot operate in silos. While the government builds infrastructure, circuits, and policies, it is the tour operators who bring destinations to life—acting as storytellers and bridges between travelers and the state. The synergy between APTIDC and ADTOI was described as not optional, but essential for driving sustainable growth.
₹9,200 Crore Investment Push & Massive Expansion
Over the last 18 months, Andhra Pradesh has stepped into a new era of tourism development, moving beyond infrastructure to immersive, experience-driven tourism.
Major Achievements:
- 42 major hotel, resort, and amusement park projects sanctioned worth ₹9,200 crores (~7,994 rooms), accounting for nearly one-third of India’s new room inventory.
- 1,800+ homestay rooms onboarded across the state.
- 30 adventure & water sports activities operational at 8 locations.
- 100 activities across 35 locations to be operational within six months.
- Scuba diving introduced at Rishikonda Beach and Timmapuram.
- Paramotoring operational at Sagar Nagar and Rishikonda.
- Zip line & zip cycle at Ettipothala Waterfalls nearing completion.
Caravan Tourism & Floating Experiences Gain Momentum
Andhra Pradesh’s Caravan Policy has received a strong market response:
- 5 caravans deployed; 10 more in the pipeline.
- Capsule float homes, float parks, and float-and-dine boats launched at Behampore (booked three months in advance).
- Luxury party boats and floating villas approved.
- Premium houseboats introduced at Bhavani Island, Suryalanka, and Vijayawada.
Haritha Hotels Upgraded
- 712 rooms renovated.
- 180 new rooms added across key destinations.
₹428 Crore Mega Projects Under Development
APTIDC has secured ₹428 crores from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for transformative tourism projects:
- Experience enhancement at Borra Caves and Suryalanka Beach (Swadesh Darshan 2.0).
- Gorge and fort tourism development at Gandikota.
- Akhanda Godavari Project including redevelopment of Havelock Bridge and Pushkar Ghat at Rajahmundry.
- Temple development at Simhachalam Temple and Annavaram (PRASAD scheme).
- Spiritual development of Ahobilam and Buddhist tourism at Nagarjuna Sagar.
All projects are targeted for completion by June 2026.
Investor-Friendly Tourism Policy 2024–29
The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024–29 grants industry status to tourism and introduces:
- Tourism Land Allotment Policy 2025.
- 66-year leases (extendable by 33 years) for mega projects.
- 33-year leases (extendable) for MSME projects.
- Seamless incentive claims via operational guidelines.
The policy has been recognized nationally as one of India’s most investor-friendly tourism frameworks.
From Infrastructure to Immersive Experiences
Andhra Pradesh is shifting from building hotels to building experiences:
- River cruises
- Cultural trails
- Culinary tourism
- Spiritual odysseys
- Eco stays
- Craft & heritage villages (Araku, Etikoppaka Toy Village, Kuchipudi Heritage Village)
The focus is on transforming tourism from “seeing places” to “living Andhra Pradesh.”
Vision for a Global Tourism Hub
The state aims to promote sustainable tourism, green mobility, digital innovation, and stronger public-private partnerships.
Hon’ble Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was praised as a visionary leader driving the transformation. He reiterated that tourism is “the ultimate ism for India,” emphasizing Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to evolve from a national tourism destination into an international tourism powerhouse.
Conclusion
With record investments, policy reforms, immersive experiences, and strong industry collaboration, Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as one of India’s most vibrant, diverse, and globally competitive tourism destinations.
Together, the state and industry stakeholders aim to take Andhra Pradesh tourism to new heights of innovation, investment, and impact.
