Hyderabad, May 24, 2026: The National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), jointly promoted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Government of Telangana under the aegis of the Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) Department, organised a Tourism Conclave on “Destination Telangana – The Road Ahead” at the NITHM Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, as the concluding event of the weeklong Tourism Week celebrations held under the Government of Telangana’s “Prajalavaddaku Palana” initiative on Friday.
The conclave brought together policymakers, tourism experts, hospitality leaders, branding specialists and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the future of tourism in Telangana and the opportunities emerging in domestic, heritage, experiential and sustainable tourism.
Inaugurating the conclave, Patel Ramesh Reddy, Chairman, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC), said tourism is a powerful engine of economic development, employment generation and youth empowerment. He stated that tourism imparts valuable life skills, broadens perspectives and creates livelihood opportunities across sectors.
He informed that Telangana has already attracted investments worth Rs 16,000 crore in tourism through the PPP model and described Tourism Week as an excellent initiative to promote tourism awareness and participation. He emphasised that the Government considers tourism a priority sector and invited the industry to come forward with innovative ideas, particularly in village tourism, which he said holds tremendous untapped potential.
L. Ranjeet Nayak, Director of Tourism, Government of Telangana, spoke on “Making Telangana the Hub for Green and Sustainable Tourism.” He described the conclave theme as timely and futuristic, highlighting the importance of inclusive and sustainable tourism models. He also suggested organising a Mango Festival to promote seasonal and experiential tourism.
Prof. Venkatramana, Director, NITHM, delivered the introductory address and highlighted the institute’s commitment to promoting tourism education, research and industry collaboration.
A major attraction of the conclave was the CEO Panel Discussion on “Destination Telangana – The Road Ahead,” chaired by Tarun Singh Chauhan of TSC Consulting. The panel featured D. Ramchandram, Co-Chairman, Tourism Committee, FTCCI; Nagesh Pampati, President, TAAI Telangana Chapter; Aditya Deendayal, Executive Director, Alankrita Resort; Abhishek Patawar, CEO, Weddings by Patawar; and Arnab Gupta, General Manager, Taj Deccan.
Speaking during the session, Tarun Singh Chauhan observed that tourism succeeds when destinations sell experiences, emotions and identity — not merely locations. He cited the transformation of Nashik through Sula Vineyards as a benchmark for destination-led economic development and experiential tourism in India.
He also suggested that Telangana create strong symbolic tourism identities similar to how Kashmir is associated with the Chinar tree, Kerala with backwaters and coconuts, Rajasthan with forts and camels, and Goa with beaches. Telangana, he said, possesses powerful cultural assets such as Bathukamma, Deccan heritage, lakes, forts, cuisine and the Kohinoor legacy, which can collectively shape a globally recognisable tourism identity.
D. Ramchandram, Co-chairman of Tourism Committee of FTCCI, a 108-year-old trade body, spoke extensively on Telangana’s branding potential and described the state as an under-discovered destination with immense opportunities in Deccan heritage tourism, cultural tourism, spiritual tourism, festival tourism and experience tourism.
He said Telangana represents a unique fusion civilisation shaped by South Indian, Persian, Telugu, Urdu, Islamic, folk and tribal influences. He advocated positioning Telangana as the cultural heart of the Deccan and called for stronger destination branding, tourism circuits and international marketing.
Ramchandram highlighted the untapped global branding value of the Kohinoor diamond, noting that while the world recognises the Kohinoor, very few know of its Telangana origins. He described the Kohinoor legacy as a potential luxury heritage tourism brand for the state.
He also stressed the need to aggressively promote homestays and revealed that the Tourism Committee of FTCCI had proposed a free capacity-building programme to help establish nearly 800 homestays across eight key tourism destinations in Telangana.
Sharing lighter cultural observations, he remarked that Hyderabad’s chai culture reflects the city’s social vibrancy, saying, “Before social media came, there was chai. In Telangana, every tea stall is an unofficial parliament session.”
He further explained the acronym TELANGANA as Traditions, Expressions, Lakes, Arts, Nature, Glory, Architecture, Narratives and Aspirations.
Recalling a remark once made by former President of India Ram Nath Kovind that Hyderabad was known for “Biryani, Bahubali and Badminton,” D. Ramchandram, noted PR professional and Co-Chairman of the FTCCI Tourism Committee, creatively expanded the idea by presenting Telangana’s “Big Bs” — Biryani, Badminton, Bahubali, Bangles, Bathukamma, Bonalu, Bagara Baingan, Bidriware, Biotechnology, Biscuits and Bun Maska — as symbolic representations of the state’s rich cultural, culinary, industrial and lifestyle identity.
Other panellists also shared important perspectives. Nagesh Pampati described tourism as a “classroom without walls.” Aditya Deendayal pointed out the need for stronger tourism circuits across Telangana, while Arnab Gupta highlighted the hospitality potential of the state. Abhishek Patawar observed that Hyderabad is increasingly emerging as a preferred destination wedding hub.
Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who graced the conclave during the later sessions, presented a powerful vision for Telangana tourism. He said that if Telangana’s 3.5 crore citizens travel within the state for just two days every month, it could create a vibrant year-round tourism economy across districts, towns and villages.
He noted that this vision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated call for citizens to explore India and reduce avoidable foreign travel to conserve foreign exchange and strengthen domestic economies.
The Minister also spoke about “Prabhata Bheri,” the Telangana Government’s emerging cultural and tourism awareness initiative designed as a cultural awakening, social awareness and tourism movement aimed at promoting heritage, storytelling, folk arts and community engagement.
In a virtual address during a special session on heritage preservation and tourism-friendly urban development, Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, Metropolitan Area & Urban Development (HMDA Limits), said: “Future-ready cities are not only investment destinations — they are experience destinations. Urban development today must integrate tourism, culture, public spaces, accessibility and local experiences to create vibrant economic ecosystems. Tourism thrives where cities create experiences, connectivity and cultural vibrancy.”
The conclave also featured focused sessions on heritage conservation, sustainable tourism and stakeholder collaboration.
A session on “Towards Preserving Heritage and Making Cities Tourist-Friendly,” chaired by Prof. Arjun Rao Kuthadi, highlighted the importance of heritage conservation, urban planning and citizen participation, with contributions from Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, and INTACH representative Er. Veda Kumar Manikonda.
Another important session on “Making Telangana the Hub for Green and Sustainable Tourism,” chaired by L. Ranjeet Nayak, IFS, brought together leaders from Ramoji Film City and Pragati Resorts to discuss eco-tourism, responsible hospitality and sustainable destination development.
The conclave concluded with a strong call for collaborative efforts between government, industry, entrepreneurs and communities to position Telangana as one of India’s most distinctive and experience-driven tourism destinations.