AP Plans Rs. 1,000 Crore PPP For Tourism

It has been reported that the state of Andhra Pradesh is posed to take a giant leap into the cut-throat, predatory jungle that is the tourism industry (you didn't really think that all things tourist-related were about coming up with little brochures, and with composing little ditties dedicated to the moss-covered boulders in Golkonda, did you?). Andhra Pradesh has set out on an ambitious Public Private Partnership (PPP) project that amounts to a staggering Rs. 1,000 crores, which will be channelled into the tourism sector.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, and the department has already contributed Rs. 221 crores towards it. Apart from this, the state is also expecting another investment of Rs. 58 crores. Now, any normal Indian will have started calculating just how much of this money will actually be spent to profit tourism in Andhra Pradesh, rather than to contribute to Mauritius' tourism sector (if you know what we mean *hint hint*), but the official report says that Rs. 175 crores will be invested in the Vizag-Vizianagram-Srikakulam regional circuit.

Also, the government plans to enable the APTDC to operate as many as 9 new beach properties at Baruva and Kalingapatnam (Srikakulam), Chintapally (Vizianagaram), Kakinada (East Godavari), Perupalem (West Godavari), Ramayapatnam (Prakasam), and Tummalapenta, Maypadu and Kotta Kudur (all in Nellore).

And after they have done all this investment, the government officials plan to fly down to Scotland, in person, no less, and escort the Loch Ness monster to do the muhurtam for the project.

No, we are kidding, the officials are not planning something so obviously mundane.

Instead, they have already sharpened their err... MS Office skills, and have renewed their rusting relations with the neighbourhood printer, so that they can, without any further delay, embark on that valiant journey into the treacherous waters of public sentiments - something that we have code-named PR work (like calling Voldemort You-Know-Who).

The APTDC plans to promote tourist packages that are centred around themes like culture, art, cuisine, textiles, dance, water sports, leprechaun-hunting, ensnaring-of-gryphons-on-a-moonless-night, and other such delirium-inducing issues that are sure to interest the average tourist.

We wish them luck.