Tourism projects hit a roadblock
Several tourism projects announced for Visakhapatnam remain stalled, with the district Tourism Department focusing largely on investment proposals signed at last year’s Investors Partnership Summit.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had signed agreements with several organisations to set up hotels in the city, and directed the Collector and the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) to facilitate land for the projects. However, the Tourism Department has not taken up any significant new initiatives.
A monthly events programme announced after a successful food festival on Beach Road last September has also been abandoned. The then Collector, M.N. Harendhira Prasad, had directed the Tourism Department to prepare an annual calendar and organise an event every month.
Visakha Utsav was held three months later through a Hyderabad-based event management agency. Several scheduled programmes, including a drone show, were not conducted. No major tourism event has been held since.
Projects remain on paper
Caravan tourism, announced last September, is yet to take off. A caravan was brought to the city, and services to Araku Valley, Lambasingi and other destinations were announced, but the facility is yet to be opened to tourists.
A proposal for boat services from the Fishing Harbour to Tenneti Park, Rushikonda and Bheemili has also remained pending.
Cruise tourism has made little progress despite the ₹100-crore cruise terminal built by Visakhapatnam Port. Cordelia Cruises makes four or five visits a year, while other cruise liners have not established regular services. Port officials have urged the Tourism Department to take the lead in attracting more cruise operators.
The department is also facing a shortage of senior officials. District Tourism Officer Madhavi, who has been holding the post for two years, was recently given additional charge of the Regional Tourism Officer post following the vacancy.
With Visakhapatnam being a major tourism destination, stakeholders say stronger administrative focus is needed to move the stalled projects forward.