Andhra Pradesh invites investors to set up theme parks and amusement projects

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh has invited investors to set up amusement parks, theme parks, water parks and adventure zones in the State.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 24th expo organised by the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) in Mumbai on Tuesday (March 10), the Minister highlighted the State government’s vision to transform Andhra Pradesh into a major tourism and entertainment hub. He said the State has accorded industrial status to tourism, and through the new Tourism Policy 2024–29, several incentives are being offered to attract investments.

Mr. Durgesh said Andhra Pradesh offered vast potential for developing international-standard theme parks, waterfront attractions and adventure tourism projects. With its long coastline and rich cultural heritage, the State was committed to strengthening its tourism economy and creating a favourable environment for the entertainment sector.

He said infrastructure improvements such as airport expansion, better transportation facilities and increasing urbanisation had made Andhra Pradesh an attractive destination for investments and the “Swarna Andhra Tourism Vision 2047” was formulated to guide the long-term development of the sector.

The land allocation process for hotels, resorts and theme parks had been simplified and investments exceeding ₹50 crore would receive land allocation through the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), he said, informing that in the last one year alone, the State had attracted ₹18,448 crore in tourism investments through 102 agreements.

The Minister specifically invited investors to develop mega amusement parks in Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati, describing Amaravati as a greenfield capital with significant potential, Visakhapatnam as a premier coastal tourism hub and Tirupati as an ideal destination for family entertainment projects due to the large number of visiting pilgrims. He also emphasised the importance of small-scale amusement parks in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, stating that they can meet growing recreational needs with lower investment, faster completion timelines and quicker returns.

Observing that the amusement industry in India was growing at about 15% annually and was expected to reach ₹25,000 crore by 2030, he said there were around 300 amusement parks and 2,500 indoor entertainment centres currently operating in the country.

He said Andhra Pradesh tourism was entering a new phase of growth, supported by policy reforms, infrastructure development and investor-friendly governance and invited investors to partner with the government in building a vibrant tourism economy.