Nature works wonders for AP Tourism

After a small beginning in the year 2001, eco-tourism has become hot in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is gearing up to launch four new eco-tourism projects across the state during this year.

The success of these eco-tourism projects is borne by the growth in the revenue from eco-tourism, which jumped from Rs 17 lakh in 2001 to Rs 1.75 crore in the last financial year.

The revenue during this financial year is likely to touch Rs 2.25 crore, according to TVN Rao, the APTDC executive director in charge of eco-tourism projects in AP.

The corporation has already developed seven projects. It spent Rs 5 crore on the completed projects, and envisages a spend of Rs 11 crore on the ongoing projects. Of the six new projects, five will be launched in one year from now, Rao said.

The projects already completed and operational are Durgam Cheruvu Lake in Hyderabad, Ettipothala waterfalls illumination project with resort facilities, 12 km downstream of Nagarjuna Sagar project, Jungle Bells at Tyda, Ananthagiri Hills resort, both in Araku valley of Visakhapatnam, Talakona in Chittoor district, Belum caves in Kurnool district and Borra caves in Araku valley.

The ongoing projects are a fishing resort at Durgam Cheruvu in Hyderabad, Buddha Vanam at Nagarjuna Sagar, Orvakallu (Rock Park) in Kurnool, Bhavani Islands, Surya Lanka beach resort at Bapatla and Konaseema village resort in Rajahmundry.

The last four projects will become operational this year itself, while the fishing resort at Durgam Cheruvu and Buddha Vanam would be ready by March 2005 and December 2005 respectively.

APTDC is also mulling private sector participation in its eco-tourism initiative. The private parties would be invited to participate in further developing facilities at these spots, he said.

Of the executed projects, Rao said that the most significant had been the opening up of Belum caves for public viewing. The caves had become a great attraction for their fantastic stalactite and stalagmite formations, freshwater galleries and siphon. The project even won 'The most innovative and unique tourism award' and 'best new destination award.'

The APTDC executive director said that save for Kerala in the south, Andhra Pradesh would be the first to develop island tourist destinations. APTDC had already spent Rs 2 crore on development of Bhavani Islands spread over 130 acres in Krishna river.

It would also construct resort facilities and a conference hall there at a cost of Rs 3 crore. Island cycling, camp fires, tent pitching, water games are some of the facilities that would come up on the island, he said. An amphitheatre to accommodate 2,000 people is also planned.

Another major project is the Konaseema River Project on the banks of Godavari river. Six boat houses would cruise in the Vasishta tributary of Godavari, touching Shivakodilanka Islands. The base camp would be located at Peddamallam in West Godavari district, the APTDC executive director said.

On the visible impact of eco-tourism, Rao said that around two lakh tourists were visiting Belum caves, while Borra Caves were attracting upto 2.5 lakh visitors annually.

Tyda project in Araku valley had become the most popular resort on the eastern ghats, with tourists visiting from West Bengal and Orissa, he said.

Rao said the strategy was to promote tourism in important natural wonders of the state, with the active involvement of local populace. Eco tourism was resulting in employment generation for locals, mostly tribals without disturbing the pristine glory of the locales, he said.