Centre to launch comprehensive Tourism policy in next budget

Visakhapatnam, Nov 23 (UNI) Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday asked the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) Authorities to complete the cruise terminal at Port by November next year.
The centre has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the cruise terminal development, he said.
Addressing reporters after conducting a review meeting with the concerned officials on tourism development here, Kishan said Andhra Pradesh has potential to develop cruise terminals at 11 ports to attract domestic and foreign travelers.
Hailing the AP government for launching tourism policy in the state, he said and asked state Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao and officials to complete the four tourism circuits at the earliest and develop infrastructural facilities including tourism guides at all the heritage centers, temples and other popular sites.
The Union Minister said he would ask the railways to launch a full-fledged Vista dome rail to Araku as there was a huge demand.
Center and State governments coordination was needed to build the tourism sector and in this regard, a comprehensive tourism policy would be launched during the next union budget session, he informed.
The policy will aim at reviving the tourism sector in the wake of Covid-19 and further accelerate the growth of inbound and domestic tourism in the country, said Kishan.
Under the new policy, the government would also promote startups, MSMEs and the investment tourism sector, he added.
Earlier, the Union Minister visited all the Buddhists shrines in Visakhapatnam.