Hyderabad to host FTCCI conference on boosting weekend tourism
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad’s weekends offer a significant but underutilized economic opportunity. Although the city operates on a five-day workweek with 104 weekends each year, weekend tourism is mostly limited to malls and routine outings. A new initiative now aims to turn these two-day breaks into a dynamic engine for Telangana’s economy. The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) will host a conference, “Building the Weekend Tourism Economy,” on November 15, 2025, to position Hyderabad as a leader in this sector.
The event aims to establish Hyderabad as India’s ‘Weekend Capital’ by highlighting destinations within a 150–250 km radius. These include scenic drives, heritage sites, eco-retreats, and cultural hubs. However, weekend tourism remains largely unorganized, which organizers see as a significant opportunity.
“Most people either stay home or repeat visits to malls. There’s massive untapped potential in creating curated weekend circuits that offer immersive experiences, from nature trails and heritage walks to community-led tourism,” said a spokesperson from the FTCCI Tourism Committee.
The conference aims to develop accessible and sustainable weekend tourism in Telangana. It will promote scenic drives, eco-retreats, and heritage experiences, directly supporting rural livelihoods, infrastructure, and occupancy rates in tourism hubs.
The conference will show how organized weekend tourism can create jobs, boost local business, increase resort and homestay occupancy, foster micro-economies, and encourage innovation in Telangana’s travel sector.
NITHM Gachibowli event
This conference aims to launch Telangana as the top weekend destination in India. Attendees will help build collaboration across the tourism sector, shaping a new ecosystem for weekend travel.
“This isn’t just tourism, it’s about entrepreneurship, jobs, cultural preservation, and creating a sustainable model where local economies thrive,” said the organizers.
Experiential startups and digital influencers are central to the conference’s promotional strategy. The event also aims to showcase Telangana’s lesser-known attractions to urban families, young travelers, and nature lovers.
@FTCCI is organising a India’s First Conference on Building the Weekend Tourism Economy
🗓️ 15th Nov, 2025 (Saturday)
🕒 09:00am to 02:00pm
🗺️ National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana#FTCCI #WeekendTourism1/2 pic.twitter.com/g1P7V0bd40
— FTCCI ™ (@FTCCI) October 30, 2025
The half-day conference will feature a keynote on “Reimagining Weekend Tourism in Telangana” and panels on circuit development, eco-heritage tourism, digital promotion, and success stories in the sector.
The event will be held at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Gachibowli. Tourism professionals, government officials, entrepreneurs, and content creators will strategize on short-haul travel circuits.
The event is organized under the leadership of FTCCI, in partnership with Incredible India, Telangana Tourism, Ramoji Film City, Pragathi Resorts, and other stakeholders.
