In a joint effort to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s Tourism Policy 2024-2029, the Tours and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh (TTAA) and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Forum (APTF), represented by Chairman O. Naresh Kumar and President K. Vijay Mohan, have proposed a series of recommendations to boost investment and streamline business processes in the state’s tourism sector.

While commending the Tourism Department for its comprehensive policy framework, the associations emphasized the need for measures that reduce entry costs for entrepreneurs and attract more investments. Key suggestions include:

1. Tradable Incentive Certificate (TIC): Introduce TICs for partial payment of incentives to local bodies for plan approvals, property tax, and stamp duty, enabling smoother project execution.
2. Stamp Duty Exemption: Provide a 100% exemption on stamp duty and transfer duty instead of reimbursement.
3. Municipal Approvals: Defer project plan approval costs for projects completed within stipulated timelines, adjusting them against incentives payable.
4. Property Tax Deferment: Allow a 4-year deferment on property taxes, payable to local bodies using TICs.
5. SGST Refunds: Offer input credit for SGST every six months via a portal, streamlining the reimbursement process.
6. Land Allocation: Allocate D Patta, government, or forest lands at favorable rates for tourism projects, including hotels, resorts, and theme parks. Ensure lands are equipped with approach roads, electricity, and water before allotment.
7. Bar License Reforms: Reduce bar license fees for hotels to ₹5–10 lakh annually, encouraging renewals and increasing tourism activity like MICE events and destination weddings.

The associations also highlighted the state’s underutilized Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) from earlier partner summits. They urged the government to organize site visits for interested investors and offer pre-identified, infrastructure-ready lands to spur immediate investments.

Policy Action Plan:
The groups called for a focused action plan on inbound, Buddhist, temple, and tribal tourism, emphasizing the need for clear frameworks to attract international and domestic visitors.

Proposed Objectives:

• Increase tourist footfall by 20% annually, doubling it in 5 years.
• Create 2 lakh jobs annually in the tourism sector, reaching 1 million in 5 years.
• Develop 20 new tourist destinations every year for the next 5 years.

These initiatives aim to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading tourism destination while fostering economic growth and employment opportunities.

For more details, contact:
Tours and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh (TTAA)
Chairman: O. Naresh Kumar
President: K. Vijay Mohan