Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New tourism policy unveiled

A new tourism policy for the Andhra Pradesh State was unveiled on 2010, 13th september after a gap of 12 years with focus on attracting private sector investments in tourism and hospitality and promoting tourist destinations in all the regions.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who held a review meeting with Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy and officials here on Monday, cleared the draft policy . He will officially announce the policy on September 27, World Tourism Day. The new policy aims at giving 20-25 per cent capital investment subsidy not exceeding Rs.30 lakh for investments up to Rs.100 crore. The subsidy for mega projects beyond Rs.100 crore will be decided on a case to case basis. The Tourism Department will also maintain a land bank for allotment to projects on lease.

Announcing the details to reporters, Ms. Geeta Reddy said that incentives would be given to private sector for promoting new tourism products like heli tourism, beach, water bodies, eco, adventure, rural, heritage tourism besides ‘Aam Aadmi' tourism.

Heli tourism is meant for small families/groups to fly by helicopters to different destinations. Fly Tech Aviation Academy showed interest in the project.

Under ‘Aam Aadmi' tourism, affordable, clean accommodation, bed and breakfast facilities, dormitories would be developed.

The advantage of Hyderabad as an attractive Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination would be maximised by promoting its world-class facilities. A society was formed with government officials, representatives of convention centres, star hotels to work as collective partners, she said.

A society was also formed with stakeholders to give thrust to medical tourism and a similar arrangement would be in place with producers, directors from AP, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to encourage film tourism and facilitate shootings, she added.

Four Institutes of Hospitality Management would be set up at Warangal, Medak, Vijayawada and Kadapa.

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