Vijayawada, June 27 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that the sate will be the wellness and happiness destination of the future and invited Baba Ramdev as a spiritual guide to promote wellness tourism.
Speaking at the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0 held here on Friday, the Chief Minister unveiled an ambitious vision to position AP as a global leader in tourism. Naidu was joined by special guest Baba Ramdev. Naidu declared that globally, one in every ten jobs was from tourism.
He emphasized the sector’s potential to create eight jobs for every Rs 1 lakh invested, more than IT, manufacturing, or agriculture. He shared plans to grow the sector’s employment share from 12% to 15%, and increase its contribution to GSDP from Rs 74,000 crore to Rs 2,40,000 crore by 2029.
The government is developing 7 anchor hubs -- Visakhapatnam, Araku, Rajahmundry, Amaravati, Srisailam, Gandikota, and Tirupati -- and over 25 thematic circuits, including 10 temple circuits, 5 coastal, 4 river routes, 2 cruises, 2 Buddhist, and 3 eco-tourism trails.
Tourism has now been granted industry status across segments, with incentives like 100% stamp duty exemption, electricity duty reimbursement for five years, SGST reimbursements for up to 15 years, and fast-tracked clearances under the “Speed of Doing Business” initiative.
Naidu reviewed the tech-powered roadmap to transform Andhra Pradesh’s tourism landscape presented by top officials. On the occasion, the Chief Minister launched AP’s Tourism Digital Calendar, along with a new brochure, strategy paper, and annual tourism event schedule. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) signed MoUs worth Rs 10,329 crore in his presence.
The Chief Minister flagged off the state's Caravan Tourism initiative, offering modern, mobile travel solutions for families and groups. This innovative model is designed to boost tourism in lesser-known destinations, create jobs, and support sustainable regional development.
Baba Ramdev called for the development of Horsley Hills as an international wellness destination integrating yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. Baba Ramdev announced plans to set up Patanjali wellness centers across the state and suggested promoting scenic locations as premium wedding venues, celebrating Indian traditions.
UNI DP PRS