Determined to explore the enormous scope for tapping the huge potential of tourism development in the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, the government has drafted a new investor-friendly tourism policy which will come into effect in a month.
For aggressive promotion and implementation of tourism infrastructure development projects across the 13 districts of the State, the government has designed a policy framework to attract private sector investments. “Draft of the new policy is ready. Currently, exclusive workshops are being held with brainstorming sessions attended by stakeholders drawn from sectors like hospitality, travel and tourism and other allied wings. The new policy will be a lot more flexible one,” said a source in the tourism department.
Focus areasOfficials are holding discussions with industry associations and trade bodies such as Chambers of Commerce, CII, FICCI, FHRAI and IATO to understand their perspective on the draft tourism policy. Meetings with leading financial institutions for priority-lending and required legislations from the Ministry of Finance/ RBI, sessions with the departments concerned for allocation of better budget to support private sector and rolling out of the plans to commission the new policy with aggressive incentives, benefits and tax waivers are other focus areas.
Private investors are said to be keen on stressing the need to channelize the private sector investments by incorporating incentives for ‘financial viability’, especially for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Single window clearance system, simplification of registration process for tourism projects, waiver of registration charges for ‘lease agreements’ for BOT projects implemented in PPP mode are other factors that are eagerly awaited.
The Government is being urged to strengthen the District Tourism Promotion Councils and constitute new STPC & STBP, high-level policy-making bodies for tourism projects.
Formation of a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) with suitable technical personnel and project coordinators to monitor the projects, initiation and implementation of the empanelment of new consultancy organisations from various technical faculties and materialising of strategic alliances with international agencies and global partners to mobilise international travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and entertainment events in the immediate future are other thrust areas.
Infographic
For a flexi tourism policy
Govt’s plans
Aggressive promotion and implementation of tourism infrastructure across 13 diustricts
A policy framework to attract private sector investments
Brainstorming sessions attended by stakeholders
Sectors like hospitality, travel and tourism are involved
Money flow
Discussions on with Chambers of Commerce, CII, FICCI, FHRAI and IATO
Meetings with leading financial institutions for priority-lending and required legislations
What investors want
Private investors want incentives and financial viability
Single window clearance system, simplification of registration process for tourism projects, waiver of registration charges for ‘lease agreements’ for BOT projects implemented in PPP mode