Andhra Pradesh has sealed agreements worth ₹500 crore with major tourism and hospitality partners including EaseMyTrip and Hilton Hotels under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Corporation, announced at the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Investors Programme held at Gandikota Fort in Kadapa district. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu personally witnessed the signing of these MoUs, which aim to develop integrated tourism infrastructure across key destinations such as Gandikota, Srisailam, Mantralayam, Tirupati, and others.
These agreements are slated to deliver a wide range of projects: construction of hotels, adventure sports facilities like kayaking, jet skiing, high‑ropes courses, boating, and even ropeways and glass‑bottom walkways, particularly focused on Gandikota (often dubbed the “Grand Canyon of India”). In addition, the state government has laid the foundation (virtually) for multiple tourism developments under central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan and SASKY, targeting sites including Gandikota itself, Borra Caves, Ahobilam, and Nagarjuna Sagar.
Naidu also unveiled the state’s broader tourism strategy: developing seven anchor hubs – Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley, Rajamahendravaram, Amaravati, Srisailam, Gandikota, and others along with 25 thematic tourism circuits, eight state-level tourism events, and district‑wise programmes; homestay promotion; and the formulation of a dedicated master plan for Gandikota as a world-class tourism destination .
The Chief Minister highlighted that tourism projects have been granted ‘infrastructure status’ under the new AP Tourism Policy, designed to attract investment across sectors such as eco‑tourism, cruise, wellness, caravan, golf, heritage, and temple tourism. A marquee project worth ₹78 crore under the SASKY scheme was also launched at Gandikota, with luxury hotels, an eco‑tent city, boating facilities, night‑illumination of the fort, heli‑rides (starting September), and caravan tourism services (tourists from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai) scheduled later this year. The tent city is expected to be operational before year‑end.
Finally, the government announced an ambitious target of developing 50,000 hotel rooms across multiple tourist hotspots in the state as part of its tourism infrastructure expansion plan.
Andhra Pradesh’s ₹500 crore tourism investment with national and international hotel‑travel partners marks a major push toward transforming its scenic and spiritual destinations into globally competitive hubs, with world‑class amenities, adventure offerings, and a comprehensive strategic framework.
