Telangana plans ‘tourism coupons’ to get Hyderabad IT professionals travelling on weekends

The Telangana government is contemplating introducing 'Tourism Coupons' to incentivize IT professionals from Hyderabad to venture beyond the city during weekends. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and officials to meet with CEOs of major IT firms and tourism project operators to explore the potential of launching specialized tourism programs and vouchers for software employees.

At the World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations in Shilparamam, Mr. Bhatti emphasized that Hyderabad's substantial IT workforce could be motivated to visit various regions of Telangana, thereby promoting lesser-known sites while establishing a novel domestic tourism sector within the State. This proposal is part of a broader government initiative to harness digital technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and private investment to elevate Telangana's tourism sector.

This year's World Tourism Day, with the theme 'Digital Agenda: Reimagining Tourism with Artificial Intelligence', has prompted Mr. Bhatti to advocate for increased reliance on AI and digital solutions to elevate Telangana's tourism status on the global stage. Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao disclosed that the government is targeting ₹50,000 crore in tourism investments and creating 5 lakh job opportunities in the State.

Under the Telangana Tourism Policy 2025-30, the State had initially aimed for ₹15,000 crore in investments, but the government has now increased its goal to ₹50,000 crore, following the Chief Minister's directive. The government also intends to broaden the tourism landscape by developing 27 Special Tourism Areas outlined in the Telangana Tourism Policy.

Vani Prasad, Special Chief Secretary of the Tourism Department, stressed that tourism should be viewed as a development engine and employment generator at the community level, from tourist guides to large investment projects. She emphasized the significance of living culture and arts in defining Telangana's identity, asserting that merely having monuments or structures does not constitute the State's tourism identity.

P. Gouthami, Managing Director of the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC), highlighted that Telangana should be marketed as 'one State with many experiences,' citing the array of tourism offerings available across the State, such as Buddhist tourism, waterfalls, rivers, wellness tourism, medical value tourism, weddings and conventions, film and cinema-related tourism, eco-tourism, and adventure experiences.

The TGTDC operates restaurants, boating facilities, transport services, tourism packages, fairs and festivals, and sound-and-light shows at tourism sites, and is actively seeking private partners to modernize its operations and introduce floating restaurants and houseboats at selected destinations, including Somasila.