TELANGANA TOURISM POLICY 2O25 – 2O3O

Background: Our history is Our Future

Telangana has a rich historical and cultural identity. The region has a long legacy from prehistoric times to the mighty Kakatiya rule in the 14th century CE.

In historical literature, the region was known as Trilingadesha, meaning the land surrounded by three sacred Shaiva centres:

• Srisailam
• Draksharamam
• Kaleshwaram

Over time, the term Trilingadesha became Telingadesha and later evolved into Telangana.

Historical and Cultural Importance of Telangana

• Telangana flourished under different dynasties and cultural traditions. During the period of the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, the State developed in the fields of language, literature, arts, crafts and architecture.
• The region reflects the Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb, which represents cultural harmony and composite traditions. The erstwhile State of Hyderabad also emerged as one of the richest domains in the country.

Telangana is known for its:

• Magnificent forts and monuments
• Hindu and Persian architectural blend
• Islamic and Christian structures
• Buddhist and Jain sites
• Carved temples
• Lakes and rocky regions
• Wildlife, flora and fauna
• Diverse ethnic groups, festivals, art and culture

This makes Telangana a cultural mosaic and a historical paradise.

Need for Telangana Tourism Policy

• Since the formation of Telangana, tourism infrastructure development has not fully matched the State’s tourism potential. The State also did not have a dedicated tourism policy since 2014.
• Tourism infrastructure is largely driven by the private sector. Therefore, the government felt the need for a clear policy and administrative framework to improve investor confidence.

The policy aims to provide:

• Tourism infrastructure development
• Strategic concessions and incentives
• Ease and speed of doing business
• Private sector participation
• Branding of Telangana as a global tourist destination
• Capacity-building
• Institutional mechanism

The Telangana Tourism Policy 2025–30 is the first tourism policy of Telangana.

Vision of the Policy

The vision of the Tourism Policy 2025–30 is to position Telangana as “India’s Most Preferred Destination.”

The policy seeks to promote a harmonious blend of:

• Spiritual tourism
• Heritage tourism
• Culture tourism
• Adventure tourism
• Medical and wellness tourism
• Eco-tourism
• Community empowerment
• Modern infrastructure
• World-class services

The aim is to attract both tourists and investments.

Outcomes of the Policy

The policy aims to achieve the following outcomes in the next five years:

1. Attract ₹15,000 crore of new investment in the tourism sector.
2. Create additional employment opportunities for three lakh people.
3. Position Telangana among the top 5 States in domestic and international tourist arrivals.
4. Promote diverse attractions of the State at the global level through digital marketing, social media presence, literary documentation and preservation.
5. Enhance tourism contribution to 10% or more of the State GDP.

Key Drivers of the Policy

Safe Tourism

The policy focuses on making Telangana a safe and welcoming destination for tourists.

Important measures include:

• Creation of dedicated tourist police units and tourist patrols across key tourist destinations.
• Women-friendly measures to ensure the safety of female tourists.
• Use of Tourism-Friendly Index to evaluate safety standards of destinations.
• Additional CCTV surveillance at all tourist destinations.

These steps aim to create a safer environment for tourists.

Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure development is one of the major drivers of the policy.

Major initiatives include:

Railway and Airport Connectivity
The policy proposes to position Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad as a focal point by creating iconic projects within one to two hours’ drive.

Dry Port and Regional Ring Road Development
A dry port may be developed along the Regional Ring Road and connected with the Greenfield Highway to Machilipatnam Port. This may support business tourism and construction-related shopping.

Mega Retail Malls
Mega retail malls such as luxury branded malls and factory outlets are proposed along Outer Ring Road exit points based on land availability in PPP mode.

River Tourism
The policy promotes Godavari and Krishna river tourism through jetties, launch stations, water sports and houseboats. It also proposes river festivals on the lines of the boat festival of Kerala.

Air Connectivity
The policy proposes helipads and extensive air connectivity at all Special Tourism Areas.

Golf Tourism
The policy also seeks to explore golf tourism potential in the State.

Digital Promotion
A strong social media and digital presence will be created to promote Telangana as a dynamic tourism destination.

Familiarisation Trips
The policy proposes familiarisation trips for domestic and international travel communities, especially from South East Asian countries. This is aimed at attracting Buddhist tourists and investments to the State.

Sports Tourism
Existing sports infrastructure will be revitalised. The policy proposes international sports arenas and stadiums, along with an annual sports event calendar.

Adoption of Monuments
The policy encourages corporates to adopt monuments for conservation of heritage buildings, forts, palaces, tombs and tourist attractions.

Development of Special Tourism Areas

The policy proposes the development of Special Tourism Areas based on the tourism potential of different regions and destinations.

At present, 27 Special Tourism Areas have been identified. Each area will be critically reviewed through a master planning approach.

The policy states that infrastructure and tourism ecosystem gaps will be identified. Based on this, Special Tourism Area-specific strategies and road maps will be prepared with defined implementation schedules.

List of STAs with Tentative Destinations

Significance of the Policy

1. Boost to State Economy

The policy aims to increase tourism contribution to 10% or more of State GDP. This can make tourism an important economic growth sector for Telangana.

2. Employment Generation

The target of creating jobs for three lakh people can support youth employment and service-sector growth.

3. Heritage Conservation

The policy supports the preservation of forts, monuments, temples, tombs, palaces and other cultural assets.

4. Private Investment

By offering concessions and incentives, the policy seeks to attract ₹15,000 crore of new investment in tourism.

5. Global Branding

The policy aims to promote Telangana globally through digital marketing, social media and documentation of cultural attractions.

6. Inclusive Tourism

The focus on community empowerment, eco-tourism and safe tourism can make tourism more inclusive and sustainable.

Way Forward

• Implement Special Tourism Area plans with clear timelines.
• Strengthen tourist police units and women-friendly tourism measures.
• Promote Telangana’s heritage through digital platforms.
• Develop river tourism, waterfront tourism and sports tourism.
• Encourage corporate participation in monument conservation.
• Improve connectivity between major tourist destinations.
• Promote Buddhist, spiritual, heritage, eco, medical and wellness tourism.
• Ensure strong coordination between government, private sector and local communities.

Conclusion

The Telangana Tourism Policy 2025–2030 is an important step towards making tourism a priority sector in the State. Telangana has a rich historical legacy, cultural diversity, strong infrastructure and excellent connectivity. The policy seeks to convert this potential into investment, employment and global recognition.

By focusing on safe tourism, infrastructure development and Special Tourism Areas, Telangana aims to become India’s Most Preferred Destination and a major contributor to the State economy.