Hyderabad, Sep 27th: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information, Public Relations and Tourism J Geetha Reddy said the state Government was encouraging tourism sector in a big way to generate employment and revenue for the development. Addressing a gathering in connection with the World Tourism Day, she said tourism was the main sector to generate employment and revenue and the state government was taking steps to develop various tourist spots to attract more domestic and international tourists.

Claiming that Andhra Pradesh was at the forefront in implementing several tourism projects, she said the government had allocated more funds in the budget to take up new projects to create employment as the Centre had also recognized there was enormous potential for employment opportunities in tourism sector. The State Government had decided to develop 43 sites at irrigation projects, taken up under 'Jalayagnam', as tourism spots by creating infrastructure, she said, adding Chief Minister K Rosaiah would soon inaugurate 'Night Bazar' constructed on three acres of land at Shilparamam City outskirts which would function from 1500 hrs to 0300 hrs.

Stating that students of National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in the city were getting cent per cent placements after completing the course in the institute, she said the state had bagged several national awards year after year including one for project implementation in the tourism sector in the current year from the Centre. She said the government had taken up heritage tourism circuit between Kadapa-Chittor and Nellore with a cost of Rs 89 crore.