The State Government, which views tourism as a major source of revenue and has drawn up a new tourism policy, has been recognised for its effort even as the ground reality shows there is a lot to be done.
The State was awarded for its ‘Policy Leadership’ at the Fourth Edition of the World Travel and Tourism Council-India Initiative HVS State Ranking Survey-2015.
The survey, which was released in New Delhi on Monday, shows that the State Government, along with Telangana, has not fared well when compared to the rest of the States.
“AP has spelt out a Tourism Policy articulating the way ahead, acknowledging the lacuna and is willing to work on them. It is this policy direction that puts it way ahead of other governments,” Executive Director of WTTC-II Sumitro Kar told The Hindu .
“In a broad sense, the AP Government has recognised the shortcomings that are pointed out in the survey and it is willing to work on them,” he explained.
Among the 30 States, AP ranks 21st in international tourist arrivals and fifth in domestic tourists, thanks to Lord Venkateswara on Tirumala, the survey notes.
“The East Coast has tremendous tourism potential and there is need to develop infrastructure like access to these spots,” Mr. Kar said.
AP stands 25th for its expenditure on tourism. The State has allocated 0.024 per cent of total expenditure on tourism, while Telangana ranks 15th with 0.086 per cent expenditure.
Sikkim stands first with a 2.836 per cent allocation of the total government expenditure.
“The unified AP had one of the highest allocations for tourism, but post bifurcation there has been a dip in both the States,” Mr. Kar noted.
While the Travel and Tourism industry has several verticals, including hotels, airlines, and travel and tour companies, the State Ranking Survey focuses only on hotels.
The government, which levies a five per cent luxury tax on published tariff of hotels, which effectively amounts to seven per cent, stands 11{+t}{+h}in the country, whereas States like Arunachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Meghalaya levy no luxury tax.
The State lacks in branded hotels and stands 15{+t}{+h}in the country.
In road infrastructure, AP is a middling 14{+t}{+h}and 11{+t}{+h}in rail infrastructure.
In effective marketing, it is Bihar that stands tall followed by Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi and Goa. The State is ranked 10{+t}{+h}and Telangana 8{+t}{+h}.
The State Ranking Survey assesses the competitiveness of various States within India from the tourism industry’s viewpoint. It employs 11 parameters like Taxation, State Expenditure on Tourism, Tourist Arrivals, Infrastructure, Effectiveness of Marketing Campaigns, and GSDP Per Capita, among others, to evaluate the different States, Mr. Kar said.
