WOOING TOURISTS: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the valedictory function of the Indian Travel Congress in Hyderabad on Sunday. Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy, TAAI president Ashwini Kakker and Tourism Secretary Chitra Ramachandran are see n. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said Andhra Pradesh will have no problems in constructing low-cost airstrips in smaller cities, with night landing facilities, if airlines assure operations.

He was responding to a suggestion from G.R. Gopinath, Managing Director, Air Deccan, on the third day of the Indian Travel Congress here on Sunday.

Addressing the 55th convention of the Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), Dr. Reddy said the new tourism policy was almost ready and would be announced after a discussion in the Cabinet meeting on September 8. "We are investor-friendly and while being innovative we will also offer several incentives to investors," he promised.

Grass strips

The Chief Minister stated that he would convene a high-level meeting of senior officials with airline operators within 10 days to work out proposals that could be taken forward.

Replying to another suggestion from Capt. Gopinath, he promised to consider having grass (`bush') strips in every district headquarters. They could be used by chartered aircraft, as also during emergencies.

He recalled mega-events conducted recently in the State, including the Kalachakra, Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, Asian Development Bank's AGM and AICC plenary.

Hyderabad, he said, was equipping itself to be the hottest destination. The international airport was getting ready for operations, as scheduled, by March 2008.

"Andhra Pradesh is a happening State in all sectors be it business, leisure or health tourism," he added.

"We are future-ready and it is up to the airlines and travel operators to take the initiative," Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy said.

Earlier, TAAI president Ashwini Kakker gave an overview of the enormous potential of the tourism industry. He stressed the need for improving the infrastructure.

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