Big Investment Surge Powers AP Tourism Growth

Tourism in Andhra Pradesh has witnessed rapid expansion over the past 18 months, drawing investments worth more than ₹20,000 crore, State Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh informed the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

During the Question Hour, the minister said the government’s decision to grant industry status to tourism significantly boosted investor confidence. Calling it a landmark move, he stated that the policy shift helped mobilise investments totalling ₹20,088 crore, strengthening the state’s tourism infrastructure.

Of the total investment, ₹9,445 crore is being channelled into hospitality projects, with 7,348 hotel rooms currently under development across the state. The government, he said, is focused on building new hotels, resorts and tourism projects to enhance facilities for visitors and position Andhra Pradesh as a competitive travel destination.

Highlighting reforms under the Tourism Policy 2024–29 , the minister said several innovative measures were introduced to create a more investor-friendly ecosystem. Once completed, these projects are expected to generate employment for nearly 40,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

Meanwhile, Infrastructure and Investments Minister B. C. Janardhan Reddy presented details on port development initiatives in the Council. He said that ₹2,640 crore had been spent on the Ramayapatnam Port as of January 31, 2026. Expenditure on the Machilipatnam Port stood at ₹2,264 crore, while ₹2,833 crore was invested in the Mulapeta Port and ₹620 crore in the Kakinada SEZ Port .

The minister added that the government is also prioritising the development of fishing harbours. Investments include ₹282 crore for Uppada Harbour , ₹263 crore for Machilipatnam Harbour , ₹229 crore for Nizampatnam Harbour , and ₹201 crore for Juvvaladinne Harbour .

All greenfield ports and fishing harbours will be completed within stipulated timelines, he asserted, adding that the projects are expected to significantly contribute to the state’s economic growth.