Telangana must surpass India’s top tourism states: Jupally Krishna Rao

The key challenge, he noted, lies in effectively refining and packaging these assets to make the state more visible and appealing on the global tourism map.

Telangana is aiming to position itself as a benchmark for tourism innovation and quality in India, according to Jupally Krishna Rao, Minister for Tourism and Culture of Telangana. Addressing a recent public gathering, the minister said the state has the potential to emerge as a global tourism hub by leveraging its existing strengths rather than reinventing its identity.

In a post on X, Rao highlighted that when the world has become a global village, Telangana is already endowed with rich natural landscapes and a deep historical legacy. The key challenge, he noted, lies in effectively refining and packaging these assets to make the state more visible and appealing on the global tourism map. He called for a paradigm shift in the tourism ecosystem, urging officials and stakeholders to adopt international benchmarks in quality, service delivery and visitor experience.

As part of this vision, the minister proposed a two-way cultural exchange model that bridges rural heritage and urban development. Under the initiative, international and urban travellers will be introduced to the authentic lifestyles, cuisines and traditions of tribal and rural communities. At the same time, rural and tribal populations will be given exposure to the state’s urban growth, including visits to historical landmarks, heritage sites and an introduction to modern metro living, creating a more inclusive tourism framework.

Rao also stressed the need to move away from short transit visits and encourage longer stays, recommending a minimum 48-hour engagement to deepen visitor experiences. He said Telangana must not only compete with leading tourism states in India but surpass them in terms of hospitality standards. To boost visibility, he advocated aggressive promotional campaigns across IT hubs, shopping malls and educational institutions, alongside the development of a new cadre of trained, multilingual tourist guides to address language barriers and enhance the overall visitor experience.