Industry experts say Telangana possesses ingredients of major tourism economy, but lacks branding

What exactly is Telangana’s tourism identity? This question dominated discussions at the ‘Tourism Conclave on Destination Telangana’ held in Hyderabad on Saturday, May 23, where government officials, hoteliers, travel operators, heritage conservationists and hospitality leaders attempted to chart an ambitious roadmap for the State’s tourism sector. 

From destination weddings and medical tourism to tribal homestays, heritage conservation, eco-tourism and mango festivals, stakeholders argued that Telangana already possesses the ingredients of a major tourism economy, but lacks cohesive branding, infrastructure and sustained promotion.

Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao called for stronger collaboration between the government and private sectors, stating that the State government alone cannot drive tourism growth. “The government is willing to support innovative tourism proposals and the State will soon invite Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for developing tourism infrastructure around several underutilised government properties and destinations,” he added.

He admitted that many tourism destinations in Telangana continue to lack basic facilities such as accommodation, washrooms and roadside amenities.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD), who joined the conclave virtually, said India continued to attract fewer tourists than many smaller countries despite its historical and cultural wealth. He argued that the reasons were well known: inadequate infrastructure, sanitation issues, weak visitor experiences and lack of coordinated implementation.

Mr. Ranjan also stressed the need for interpretation centres, digital storytelling, QR-code based tourism experiences and better-trained guides to make heritage tourism more engaging.

The conclave also focused on sustainable and green tourism practices. During a panel discussion on making Telangana a hub for sustainable tourism, Ranjeet Nayak, Director of Tourism, stressed that tourism growth should not come at the cost of environmental degradation or exclusion of local communities. “Inclusive tourism development involving local villages and populations is critical for long-term sustainability and warned that tourism projects developed without community participation often faced resistance,” he added.

The issue of Telangana’s tourism identity became one of the most debated themes during the “Destination Telangana – Road Ahead” panel discussion.

Nagesh Pampati, president of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Telangana chapter, admitted that even frequent travellers from Telangana often knew little about the State’s tourism offerings. The panel also proposed developing tribal homestays in selected villages through public-private partnerships (PPP) and floated the idea of a State-level mango festival to promote agro-tourism.