VIJAYAWADA: After staying shut for almost 50 days, tourism destinations in the State will reopen for the general public from Thursday following a decline in the number of Covid-19 positive cases, said Tourism Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao.Addressing mediapersons at Interim Government Complex (IGC) at Velagapudi, Srinivasa Rao said steps are being taken to increase revenue through tourism and roadshows will be organised in all major cities across the country highlighting tourist spots in the State.
The State government was also focusing on construction of hotels and other facilities at Gandikota in Kadapa district as part of tourism development. Besides that the government has decided to develop Gandikota on the lines of Horsley Hills, the minister said. Disclosing the details about various projects taken up by the department, the tourism minister said that around Rs 164 crore is being spent to develop Haritha restaurant at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam as Blue Bay Hotel. The department has received all the approvals for setting up a floating restaurant (ship restaurant) on a foreign ship that ran aground off Visakhapatnam coast. Steps will be taken to purchase the ship at the earliest, he said and added that work on the floating restaurant will begin soon.
Srinivasa Rao also recalled that the government had decided to build seven-star hotels in 13 areas in the State. He said works in this regard were delayed due to the pandemic. The minister said, Oberoi Group, a luxury hotel group has come forward to construct five and seven-star hotels in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.Stating that the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is committed to make the State a tourist destination, the minister said the state government has also decided to build five and seven-star hotels under PPP model across the country.
Elaborating further, the minister said that the government was committed to implement a ban on liquor in the State. However in order to attract foreign tourists, 33 bars in the tourist areas will sell premium liquor.
The minister said the supply of food items to Covid Care Centres has generated revenue of Rs 58.05 crore from 38 hotels across the State last year and Rs 28 crore so far this year. Not even a single employee was fired despite declining revenue during the pandemic, he said.
Rs 5 lakh for three Tokyo Olympic participants
Srinivas Rao said the State government will provide a financial incentive of Rs 5 lakh each to badminton players PV Sindhu, Satvik Sairaj and hockey player Rajini, who will be participating in the Olympics in Tokyo in September this year.
Meeting with Private Boat Owners today
The Tourism Minister said that of the 50 boats owned by the State government, permission was given to 48 and they will resume operations from Thursday. Still some private boat owners have not taken licences, he said. Following the directions from the CM, the department has setup nine command control centres across the State for safe boat operations. To discuss the same a meeting will be held with private boat owners at Berm Park in Vijayawada on Thursday, he said.