The 55th Annual Convention of the Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI) brought together distinguished leaders including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Tourism Ministers from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the convention, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, assured full government support in promoting tourism. “We will certainly do our best to resolve challenges facing the industry. Our aim is to see this sector grow and contribute significantly to the nation’s development,” he said.
In his special address, Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, announced that hospitality projects worth INR 723 crore have been approved in the last six months, creating opportunities for nearly 200,000 jobs. He emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s proactive policies, infrastructure push, and global outreach through platforms like ITB Berlin and WTM London.
“Andhra Pradesh is moving beyond the ease of doing business to focus on the speed of doing business,” he noted. “Our policies for 2024 and 2029 prioritise hospitality, hub-and-spoke tourism circuits, and innovative initiatives such as tent tourism and homestay models. With destinations like Vijayawada and our rich heritage, Andhra Pradesh is poised to emerge as a premier tourism hub.”
FHRAI President K. Syama Raju reinforced the sector’s potential, stating, “Tourism and hospitality can create millions of jobs, attract global investments, and strengthen India’s cultural and economic positioning on the world stage. Progressive policies and strong public–private partnerships are key to this transformation.”