The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is investing Rs 300 crore to implement nine hotel projects and development of new facilities including three eco-tourism sites.

The State-owned corporation has registered revenues of Rs 140 crore during 2011-12, up from Rs 115 crore in 2010-11, Mr Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APTDC, said.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Sandeep Sultania said the State attracted over 15.5 crore tourists last year, which is 21 per cent of the country's total tourist traffic. This number is significant in the backdrop of Telangana agitation, which could have diverted some potential visitors to the State.

“We have taken up several sites at Kuchipudi, Pembarthi and Srikalahasti as rural tourism sites. These are getting popular. The corporation has bagged a national award for one such site,” he said. From a modest turnover of Rs 9 crore in 1999-2000, the revenues have steadily grown as new infrastructure was created. The corporation now has 57 hotels under its fold with 1,300 rooms. This will go up by 300 rooms once nine new projects are commissioned. The corporation is seeking to develop several sites close to reservoirs as tourist spots. There is latent demand for good facilities and the corporation is seeking to bridge that gap. The tour services offered by tourism corporation buses have helped clock revenues of about Rs 30 crore, he said.

It is proposed to develop Star hotels at Tirupati and other locations through private sector participation.

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