Hospitality sector seeks lands for budget-friendly hotels to boost tourism - The HinduUpdated - September 27, 2026 10:04 pm IST - VIZIANAGARAMG. Srinivasa Rao, AP Hotels Association State president | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENTThe Andhra Pradesh Hotels Association (APHA) on Sunday urged the State government to provide land at subsidised prices to establish budget-friendly hotels in major cities including Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Bhogapuram, stating that the move will develop tourism while creating employment opportunities and economic activity in the region.Speaking to the media in Vizianagaram on the occasion of World Tourism Day on Sunday, the association’s State president G. Srinivasa Rao said that the hotel industry can create thousands of jobs easily when the government is keen to extend industry status for the sector and provide land at reasonable rates for the construction of the new hotels.Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the APHA representatives would have an interaction with Minister for Tourism and Culture Kandula Durgesh in Eluru on October 1, 2026, to give a presentation on the opportunities for the growth of the hospitality sector in the State. “Many star hotels are coming up in and around Bhogapuram International Airport. But many air travellers cannot stay in those star hotels. If the government provides one acre of land at an affordable rate, at least ten budget hotels will be constructed near the airport,” Mr. Srinivas said.Published - September 27, 2026 08:31 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }