Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu says Andhra Pradesh tourism has the ingredients to become a world-class destination, pointing to the state’s temples, coastline, hills and fast-improving air links as the building blocks. He made the remarks in comments reported by The Hindu, framing AP as a state that has been quietly underselling itself for years.
Key Takeaways
- Union Minister Rammohan Naidu, an MP from Srikakulam, says Andhra Pradesh tourism can go “world class” if connectivity keeps improving.
- New and upcoming airports — Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam, the developing capital region around Amaravati, and an already busy Tirupati — are central to the pitch.
- AP’s real strength, this writer would argue, isn’t just its temples and beaches; it’s a food map that runs from Uttarandhra’s fiery curries to the Rayalaseema thali.
- Industry events like the 41st IATO Annual Convention, set to be hosted at Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, show the trade is already betting on the state.
What Exactly Did Rammohan Naidu Say About AP Tourism?
Speaking on the sidelines of a tourism-related event, Naidu made the case that Andhra Pradesh tourism has been sitting on assets most states would kill for — a nearly 1,000-kilometre coastline, temple towns that pull crores of pilgrims a year, and hill country in Araku that still feels undiscovered. His argument, as carried by The Hindu, was less about announcing a new scheme and more about naming the obvious: the state has the raw material, and what’s been missing is the packaging.
That’s a fair diagnosis. I’ve driven down the East Coast Road from Vizag to Bhimunipatnam more than once, stopping for kaki roti and boiled corn at a stall that hasn’t changed its cart in a decade, and thought the same thing — this coast is criminally under-photographed.
Who Is Rammohan Naidu, And Why Does His Comment Carry Weight?
Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu holds the Civil Aviation portfolio in the Union Cabinet and represents Srikakulam, a district in Andhra Pradesh’s north coastal belt. That matters here because his ministry, not the Tourism Ministry, controls the single biggest lever for Andhra Pradesh tourism right now: air seats. A minister who decides on new routes and airport approvals talking up AP tourism isn’t just cheerleading — it’s a signal about where flight capacity might actually go next.
The Connectivity Push Behind the Statement
Three airport stories explain the timing of his comment.
- Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport, near Visakhapatnam, is being built to eventually take pressure off the existing Vizag airport and open up more international routes to the north coast.
- Amaravati, the state’s under-construction capital, needs its own air and rail backbone as government offices and investment move in.
- Tirupati already runs a busy domestic and limited international schedule, driven almost entirely by pilgrim traffic to the Tirumala temple.
Put together, these three points on the map are the skeleton on which Andhra Pradesh tourism is trying to hang a bigger story — one that goes beyond darshan queues and into leisure travel, MICE tourism and repeat visitors.
The Real Ingredients of Andhra Pradesh Tourism
Here’s where I’ll admit my bias: I don’t plan a trip around a monument, I plan it around a meal. And if you actually eat your way across Andhra Pradesh, you understand its tourism potential faster than any brochure explains it. The state isn’t one destination — it’s at least four distinct food-and-travel belts stitched together.
| Region | Signature Dish / Waypoint | Tourism Draw |
| Uttarandhra (Srikakulam–Vizag belt) | Pootharekulu, Bongulo chicken, kaki roti | Beaches, Araku Valley, coffee estates |
| Godavari districts (Kakinada–Rajahmundry) | Royyala iguru (prawn curry), Kakinada kaja | River cruises, mangrove backwaters, Konaseema |
| Rayalaseema (Kurnool–Kadapa–Anantapur) | Ragi sangati, Gongura pachadi, spicy non-veg thali | Belum Caves, Srisailam, Lepakshi temple |
| Temple towns (Tirupati, Vijayawada, Amaravati) | Pulihora, laddu prasadam, Guntur chilli-based curries | Pilgrimage, heritage, upcoming capital-city tourism |
Nobody markets these as one trail, and that’s a missed trick. A visitor who lands in Vizag for the beaches could just as easily be sold a five-day loop that ends with a Gongura mutton curry in Kadapa. That’s the “world class” packaging Naidu was hinting at, even if he didn’t put it in those terms.
How Does Andhra Pradesh Stack Up Against Its Neighbours?
Kerala built a global tourism brand on backwaters and Ayurveda. Tamil Nadu leans on temple architecture and Chennai’s connectivity. Karnataka has Bengaluru’s airport pulling in business travellers who then extend into Coorg or Hampi. Andhra Pradesh has comparable raw material — arguably richer, given its coastline is longer than Kerala’s — but it has never had a single, well-funded international marketing push behind it. Industry gatherings are starting to change that math: the state’s tourism circuit is now attracting trade-body attention, with Visakhapatnam set to host the 41st IATO Annual Convention, a clear vote of confidence from India’s inbound tour operators.
ITB India 2026, held recently in Mumbai, also had AP-linked delegations pitching the state’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) credentials — a segment that pays far better per visitor than backpacker pilgrim traffic.
What’s Still Missing
Talk to anyone in the state’s hospitality trade and three gaps come up repeatedly:
- Limited direct international flights outside a handful of pilgrim-driven routes.
- Uneven road and last-mile connectivity to scenic spots like Araku and the Godavari backwaters.
- A branding vacuum — Andhra Pradesh tourism doesn’t yet have a single global-facing campaign the way “God’s Own Country” did for Kerala.
None of these are unfixable. But they are the reason Naidu’s comment reads as aspiration rather than an already-achieved fact.
FAQ
What did Rammohan Naidu say about Andhra Pradesh tourism?
He said Andhra Pradesh tourism has the potential to become a world-class destination, citing the state’s temples, beaches, hills and improving air connectivity, as reported by The Hindu.
Which new airport is central to Andhra Pradesh’s tourism plans?
Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport near Visakhapatnam is the key project, meant to add international capacity to the state’s north coastal belt.
What are the top food experiences to try in Andhra Pradesh?
Royyala iguru (prawn curry) in the Godavari belt, Gongura pachadi and spicy non-veg thalis in Rayalaseema, and pootharekulu sweets from Atreyapuram near Kakinada are must-tries.
Is Andhra Pradesh good for pilgrimage tourism?
Yes — Tirupati remains one of India’s busiest pilgrim destinations, and towns like Srisailam and Lepakshi add to the state’s temple-tourism draw.
Why is Visakhapatnam important for Andhra Pradesh tourism right now?
Vizag is hosting the 41st IATO Annual Convention and is central to the Bhogapuram airport project, making it the current face of the state’s tourism push.
Conclusion
Rammohan Naidu isn’t wrong about Andhra Pradesh tourism — the coastline, the hills and, frankly, the food are already world class. What the state needs now is the connectivity and the campaign to match, and on both fronts, the pieces finally look like they’re moving.