Minister highlights tourism potential of AP at FAITH conclave in Delhi

AP Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh with Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the FAITH conclave in New Delhi on Thursday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh showcased the state’s tourism potential at the FAITH Tourism Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday. He unveiled ‘Swarna Andhra Tourism Vision 2047’ which aims to position Andhra Pradesh as one of the leading global tourism destinations in India.

The minister called upon investors to partner with the state and described Andhra Pradesh as a complete tourism and investment destination.

Addressing policy makers, investors and tourism leaders, he said that the state government is striving for sustainable and community-driven tourism in line with the Viksit Bharat Centre’s vision.

Describing Andhra Pradesh as a state where “every bit of India is present”, he highlighted its 1,054 km coastline, more than 80,000 temples including the one at Tirumala, 13 wildlife sanctuaries, three national parks, the country’s largest tiger reserve and several tentative UNESCO sites.

Growth in feet

Mr. Durgesh outlined the diverse tourism offerings of the state, including spiritual, Buddhist, cultural, eco-tourism, adventure, beach, culinary, craft and cultural destinations. He noted that tourist arrivals increased from 28.58 million in 2023-24 to 36.42 million in 2025-26, while foreign tourist arrivals increased from 1.70 million to 2.72 million, registering an increase of nearly 49%.

The minister said Andhra Pradesh has accorded industry status to tourism projects and is implementing a transparent tourism policy for 2024-29. The state has attracted investment proposals worth ₹19,693 crore, while approvals have already been issued for projects worth ₹9,200 crore, which are expected to add nearly 8,000 hotel rooms.

Emphasizing employment generation as a key objective, Mr. Durgesh announced initiatives including caravan tourism, homestay promotion, adventure tourism guidelines, beach shack and concert policy, film tourism and heritage adoption schemes.

“The government aims to create three million jobs in the tourism industry over the next five years,” he said.

He highlighted the development of seven major tourism hubs, river cruise projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers, improved connectivity through six airports and the ‘Holiday in Andhra Pradesh’ campaign targeting destination weddings, experiences, cuisine and MICE tourism.

Published – 16 Jul 2026 23:57 IST