AP Star Hotels Association (ASHA) President RV Swamy said on Sunday (February 1) that several measures announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 are aimed at not only increasing the number of tourists but also the overall visitor experience.
In a statement, Mr. Swamy, who is also the chairman of the AP Chamber of Commerce’s tourism wing, said the proposal to set up a National Institute of Hospitality by modernizing the existing Hotel Management Board was a welcome move as it would help provide internationally skilled manpower to Andhra Pradesh’s hospitality sector.
As part of tourism capacity building, 10,000 tourist guides across the country will be given professional training through IIMs to enable better services at historical and heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding that a special bird-watching train to Pulicat Lake on the AP-Tamil Nadu border was announced, which was expected to make Nellore region an international tourist destination.
Referring to the incentives announced for domestic manufacturing of seaplanes, Mr. Swamy said that given Andhra Pradesh’s long coastline, it would improve connectivity to regions like Visakhapatnam and Konaseema. He pointed out that there is also potential for seaplanes and helicopters on routes like Vijayawada-Srisailam, Visakhapatnam-Araku and Gandikota-Bengaluru.
He said that sustainable and eco-friendly tourism routes should be developed in the Araku Valley, he said that wider economic initiatives would further boost tourism, including identifying Andhra Pradesh as a special rare earth corridor, which would in turn create mining and manufacturing jobs and funding to support proposed quantum technology centres.
Mr. Swamy said the development of high-speed rail corridors will improve connectivity for business and tourism and the increase in NRI investment limit to 24% is expected to attract significant investment in the real estate and equity markets and boost demand for luxury hotels and serviced apartments.
He said the relief was provided by reducing TCS on foreign tours to 2%, benefiting tourists and tour operators. “All cultural destinations will be digitised, giving global digital visibility to the pilgrimage and tourism centers of Andhra Pradesh,” he said, adding that the center would also provide technical support for tourism development along the Krishna-Godavari inland waterways. “Under temple tourism, central funds will be released for the development of Ahobilam and Buddhist heritage at Nagarjuna Sagar,” Mr. Swamy said.
Published – 01 Feb 2026 18:44 IST
