Telangana must harness cultural depth to drive tourism growth: Jupally
HYDERABAD: Telangana Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Monday underscored the state’s cultural depth and untapped tourism potential at a panel discussion during the Telangana Rising Global Summit.
The session, titled “Experience Telangana: Heritage, Culture and Future-Ready Tourism,” included Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation managing director Kranthi Valluru, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sunitha Bagavat, National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management director Venkata Ramana, Experium chairman Randhev Rao, Indian Hotels Company Ltd executive vice-president (South and International Operations) Prabhat Verma, and Ramoji Film City vice-president A V Rao.
Tourism as a growth engine
Rao said he was pleased to be part of a summit aimed at steering Telangana towards a $3 trillion economy by 2047 and noted that the government’s vision extended beyond economic indicators to social welfare and inclusive progress.
Recalling sacrifices made during the Telangana movement, he said sustained development was essential to meeting people’s aspirations. He stressed that tourism could become a major engine of economic growth, pointing to examples from the Middle East and Asia where nations with limited natural resources advanced by prioritising the sector.
State’s cultural assets need visibility
Rao said Telangana’s tourism assets heritage monuments, forts, ancient temples, landscapes, festivals, and craft traditions remained under-explored. He urged citizens to travel within the state and experience its cultural richness.
He highlighted the Free Bus Travel Scheme for women, saying it enabled women to visit regional tourist destinations, strengthening cultural familiarity and social participation.
Infrastructure expansion and investment push
The minister emphasised the need to improve accommodation across categories and strengthen roadside amenities so visitors could undertake multi-day travel comfortably. Investment in tourism, he said, would create employment and promote self-employment among youth.
Tracing Telangana’s cultural lineage from the Shatavahana to the Kakatiya eras, he referred to the architectural significance of Qutb Shahi tombs, Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and other monuments. He noted that festivals, handloom traditions and indigenous crafts continued to support small businesses and local artisans.
He also cited poet Pothana as a symbol of the values of kindness and integrity associated with Telangana’s people.
Targeting 10% GDP share from tourism by 2047
Rao said the Tourism Department was working towards ensuring the sector contributed 10% of Telangana’s GDP by 2047. The recently notified tourism policy offered incentives intended to attract private investors.
He said key properties were being converted into revenue-generating tourism infrastructure to expand employment opportunities and strengthen the economic ecosystem.
The minister added that the newly launched Telangana Tourism website provided integrated information on transport, accommodation, safety and attractions, ensuring seamless access for visitors.
He appealed to citizens, investors and industry stakeholders to promote Telangana at national and international platforms, positioning it as a culturally rich and future-ready destination.
