Tourism to get boost in West Godavari

Rajahmundry: The state tourism development corporation authorities are developing luxury resorts with a target to provide 500 rooms in West Godavari, as it is near two airports located in Rajahmundry and also at Gannavaram and will attract a large number of tourists from AP and TS. A luxury resort will be built near Yerra Kaluva reservoir at Jangareddygudem and the resort will have a reservoir as its front view. A detailed project report will be ready in about 15 days.

A garden resort will be developed near Sidhantham bridge of Penugonda mandal. A 10-acre site has already been acquired and the project will be taken up at a cost of Rs 5 crore. A resort at Pedamallam village in Achanta mandal is being developed at a cost of Rs 1.20 crore and it will have 10 rooms with bar and restaurant facilities in a three-acre site. A resort will be developed at Dongaravipalem of Penugonda mandal at a cost of Rs 1.80 crore in 1.5 acre land.

It will have a floating restaurant. A beach resort with a restaurant and a food court will be developed along the sea coast at Perupalem at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The tourism authorities say tourists, especially from AP and TS, go to other states like Kerala spending a lot of money in search of the best tourism spots along with resorts and restaurants with international standards.
They said though West Godavari has potential tourism places along the river course of Godavari, canals, major temples and other tourist attractive places, poor amenities is one of the main reasons for the lack of interest. They said they want to strengthen the amenities at several tourist places and provide resorts and restaurants with an international feel to attract them.

The authorities intend to provide fishing activity and boating in water bodies and promote rural tourism by taking the tourists to important areas where the local culture and traditions are unique. Akhanda Godavari project special officer Bheem Sankar said, “Despite having vast potential for promotion of tourism in parts of West Godavari, lack of amenities of international standards is resulting in few tourists. The state government wants to develop a series of facilities of high standards to attract the tourists.”

Infographics:

i)State government is roping in international consultants to develop the tourism facilities of high standards and engage them for operation and maintenance.

ii)A few resorts developed by APTDC between 2000 and 2005 lack basic amenities, resulting in no patronage from  tourists.

iii)All the resorts will become operational for the benefit of tourists in five to six months.