AP aims 20 pc growth rate in tourism: CM

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to establish tourism circuits in coordination with the central government. Advising tourism officials to ensure that tourists visiting AP should feel happy, Naidu asked them to utilise all available resources to develop the sector and attract tourists from all over the world. Setting a target of a 20 per cent annual growth rate for the sector in 2025-26, he said, “We have signed MoUs with various companies for investments worth Rs.1,217 crore so far.” The Chief Minister held a review meeting at the state secretariat on tourism events, cultural events, construction of hotel rooms, investments, land lease policy and home-stays. Naidu said, “A majority of the people are still not aware that zoo parks exist in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, these should be publicised to attract tourists.” Officials, he said, must complete the action plan for all these projects within 90 days. Tourists should feel in the next four months that “AP is a Happy State.” Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, chairman of the APTDC Nukasani Balaji and senior officials of the department were present