Fri Sep 12 15:35:12 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Tirupati to Become Anchor Hub for Tourism in Andhra Pradesh**

**TIRUPATI, INDIA – September 12, 2025** – Tirupati is set to undergo a major transformation into a tourism anchor hub for the Rayalaseema region, according to Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh. Speaking at a Regional Investors’ Meet organized by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) on Friday, Durgesh highlighted the significant investment of ₹12,000 crore (approximately $1.5 billion USD) in the tourism sector by the NDA government over the past 18 months.

The State government has granted the tourism sector industry status, enabling a new policy and spurring further development. While Tirupati is well known for its religious tourism, the plan includes expanding the city’s appeal to adventure and cultural tourists. The region surrounding Tirupati and including Talakona, and Nelapattu will be developed as a single tourism circuit to tap the regions latent tourism potential.

Tirupati Collector S. Venkateswar detailed the growing tourist influx and the planned tourism projects during the event. Principal Secretary (Tourism) Ajay Jain, APTDC Managing Director Amrapali Kata, and several other officials and legislators also participated in the program.

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