The Andhra Pradesh government has approved a Concert Promotion Framework as part of its Tourism Policy 2024–29, aiming to transform the state into a major concert tourism hub by attracting world-class music festivals and entertainment events.
The policy seeks to boost tourism, hospitality and the local economy by hosting large-scale national and international concerts in Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
Under the framework, the government plans to support event organisers who conduct at least four international music festivals and five other national or international entertainment events annually across the three cities.
World-Class Concert Venues Planned
The government also intends to develop global-standard concert venues with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 spectators under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
Officials believe the initiative will position Andhra Pradesh as a preferred destination for major music festivals while driving growth in tourism, hospitality, aviation, retail and allied sectors.
To attract marquee events, the government will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for ticketed concerts and entertainment festivals that meet international standards.
Organisers will be eligible for financial assistance of up to ₹5 crore per event, while the incentive may be enhanced to ₹10 crore depending on the strategic importance of the event and the expected audience turnout.
The incentive structure includes:
Up to Rs 2 crore for events attracting fewer than 20,000 visitors
Up to Rs 3 crore for events with 20,000–50,000 attendees
Up to Rs 5 crore for events drawing more than 50,000 people
The government has earmarked Rs 25 crore annually towards these incentives.
Single-Window Clearances and Infrastructure Support
As part of the policy, organisers will be allowed to use government grounds, beaches and other public venues free of cost for eligible events.
To prevent accommodation shortages during major concerts, the government will facilitate advance blocking of hotel rooms and introduce a mechanism to regulate room tariffs during large events.
All approvals required for organising concerts will be processed through a single-window clearance system to ensure faster approvals.
The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA) will serve as the nodal agency for implementing the framework. A high-level committee chaired by the Secretary, Tourism Department, will evaluate proposals and decide on financial and other incentives.
The government expects the initiative to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s profile as an events destination, generate employment, attract tourists, and stimulate investment in hospitality and related industries.
Also read: Andhra logs 12 Covid cases, four deaths since June 26
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