AP Tourism Gets a Boost as Durgesh’s Delhi Trip Pays Off

Aiming to position Andhra Pradesh as a global tourism destination, Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh held key meetings in New Delhi with Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, presenting proposals worth ₹915 crore for 9 projects.

Submitted under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASAD and SASCI schemes, the plan focuses on strengthening infrastructure, promoting iconic destinations and expanding spiritual tourism.

Major allocations have been proposed for key temples, including ₹95.18 crore for Mangalagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple and ₹213.72 crore for Arasavalli Sun Temple. Additional proposals cover temples at Nellore , Korukonda and Vadapalli .

The proposal also covers coastal and hill tourism, including ₹120.04 crore for beach development in Machilipatnam and ₹99.87 crore for tourism upgrades in Lambasingi. Plans include ₹77.32 crore for tent cities near Buddhist sites and ₹103.05 crore for cultural development at Lepakshi Temple.

In Amaravati, the state has sought support for a National Institute of Hospitality and a ₹100 crore Tourism Bhavan, as recommended by the Sheela Bhide Committee.

The government is also pushing cultural initiatives, including projects linked to the Suryaraya Nighantuvu, following suggestions by Pawan Kalyan, along with institutions such as the National School of Drama, Lalit Kala Akademi and Sahitya Akademi.

With ₹430 crore worth of projects already underway and a positive response from the Centre, Andhra Pradesh expects a strong boost to its tourism and cultural sectors.