Microbreweries at notified tourism spots to boost visitor inflows in A.P.

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to give a fillip to beach tourism by introducing a more liberal excise policy by allowing microbreweries in notified tourism areas across the State.

As part of this initiative, the government amended the A.P. Brewery Rules, 2006 last month, expanding the scope for setting up microbreweries.

Under the revised norms, microbreweries will now be permitted within a five-kilometre belt from municipal corporation limits, in designated tourism centres, and in three-star and above hotels, irrespective of location, in addition to areas already allowed under existing rules.

Earlier, such units were restricted to municipal corporation limits. At present, only eight microbreweries are operational in Andhra Pradesh.

In an interaction with The Hindu, Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary, Excise Department, said tourists expect diversified liquor brands in varying quantities. Such options would be available at premium liquor outlets and microbreweries, he said.

The introduction of premium shops has improved shopping convenience and widened brand choices, while tourists also expect reasonable pricing.

He added that, following a request from the Tourism Department, the government decided to permit microbreweries at notified tourism destinations to boost visitor inflow.

With a long coastline and a renewed thrust on beach tourism, the officials have also discussed encouraging beach shacks and resorts. However, a formal policy decision on that aspect is yet to be taken, sources said.