Andhra Pradesh, under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, is working to make tourism a key pillar of its development, aiming to boost the economy and create jobs across the state.
At the recent Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave, organised under the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation, government officials, industry leaders, and creative experts gathered to discuss plans for transforming Andhra Pradesh into a major tourism and cultural hub.
The conclave brought together stakeholders including Wizcraft Entertainment and E-Factor, two of India’s leading experiential agencies. Key figures like SP Tucker (former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh), Ajay Jain (Special Chief Secretary), and Amrapali Kata (Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) led discussions on how tourism can drive growth across sectors such as aquaculture, weaving, handicrafts, and the creative economy.
Speaking at the event, CM Chandrababu Naidu emphasised the importance of the “Speed of doing business” and highlighted his vision of 4Ps — Public-Private-People Partnership — as the model for the state’s future. He urged business leaders, including yoga and wellness entrepreneur Baba Ramdev, to help promote Andhra Pradesh’s tourism potential across India and globally.
A major focus was developing Andhra Pradesh’s 974-km coastline. Plans include yacht tourism, cruises, international beach sports, luxury resorts, and beach festivals, aiming to generate over 1 lakh new jobs across diverse skill sets.
Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder of Wizcraft, suggested ways to boost the state’s average revenue per tourist by making Andhra’s aqua tourism and creative economy more aspirational. He shared examples from global destinations like Dubai’s Palm Islands and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island as models for waterfront development.
Joseph also highlighted film tourism as a significant opportunity, proposing that Andhra Pradesh could become a hub for the Telugu film industry. Such a move could create jobs and attract both domestic and international investment.
A unique initiative, “Stories of Andhra Pradesh,” was introduced by Wizcraft to promote local crafts, weaves, and traditions. This multi-year project aims to create economic opportunities through storytelling, skilling, and community-led businesses.
Meanwhile, Samit Garg, Co-Founder of E-Factor, spoke about the huge potential of India’s event and experiential industry, valued at over ₹5 lakh crores, covering weddings, corporate events, sports, gaming, exhibitions, and government projects. He called for better infrastructure like river cruises, tent cities, and improved connectivity to encourage longer tourist stays.
During the conclave, E-Factor signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation to develop river cruises in the state. Garg also proposed tourism taglines like “Andhra Pradesh – Find your soul” and “Andhra Pradesh – The Soul of India.”
The conclave underscored Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to position itself as a vibrant destination for global tourism, culture, and the creative economy. As CM Naidu summed it up: “One State – Many Stories. One State, Multiple Experiences.”
