In a bid to boost high-end tourism, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has granted preliminary approval for the operation of five ultra-luxury tourist boats in the backwaters of Vijayawada’s Berm area and Suryalanka Beach.
The boats will be operated by private parties, with the initiative aimed at positioning Andhra Pradesh as a premium river and coastal tourism destination on the lines of Kerala. As part of the project, private operators will construct five jetties at the identified locations and arrange electricity facilities to support boat operations.
Officials said permissions for the boat designs will be obtained from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), following which construction will begin. The luxury vessels are expected to be ready for commercial operations by October 2026.
Under the Vijayawada segment, a firm already operating luxury boats in Kerala has come forward in partnership with an Andhra Pradesh-based company to run two vessels between Berm Park and Pavitra Sangam. A detailed survey of the 20-kilometre stretch has already been completed.
Of the two proposed boats, one will feature five bedrooms and a conference hall with a seating capacity of 100 people, while the other will be designed for dinner cruises accommodating up to 200 guests. Jetty and electricity facilities will be provided at Bhavani Island, where the boats will be docked overnight.
In addition, three ultra-luxury boats will be introduced in the backwaters from Nagarjuna Canal to Nizampatnam near Suryalanka Beach in Bapatla district. These vessels will offer varied accommodation options, with one having four bedrooms, another three, and the third two bedrooms. Tourists will be able to cruise up to 30 kilometres through scenic backwaters, passing several identified picturesque locations.
Meanwhile, APTDC is conducting feasibility studies to introduce similar ultra-luxury boat tourism services in Rajahmundry, along the Visakhapatnam coast, in the Godavari River near Kakinada, and at Nagarjunasagar. Once the studies are completed, tenders will be invited from interested private operators.
The initiative forms part of the coalition government’s sustained efforts over the past year to expand tourism offerings across rivers, sea and backwaters through private participation.