Govt to promote rural tourism: Minister

Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, Apr 16 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister J Geetha Reddy has said the government would promote tourism in rural areas after identifying potential places in the state.

Inaugurating a tourism cruise service in river Godavari at Pattisam village near here yesterday, Ms Geetha Reddy said the state government had come out with a rural tourism project and had already allotted Rs 500 crore for it.

She said the project would provide employment opportunities to the rural youth.

The government would invite private participation for developing rural tourism and would provide subsidies to private parties, who take part in the project.

She said a project had been mooted to develop the handloom sector at a cost of Rs four crore and special packages of Rs 1.50 crore would be sanctioned for the development of the traditional dance form, Kuchipudi.

The government would provide a special package at a cost of Rs eight crore to develop eco-tourism in the world famous fresh water Kolleru lake in West Godavari district.

The government had identified Guntupalli village as a Buddhist center and would develop it into a tourist spot, she added.

UNI