Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned Miss World 2025 at the 72nd Miss World pageant in Hyderabad on May 31. Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Telangana’s tourism industry witnessed a year of policy-led reforms, global events and fresh investment impetus in 2025, with the state positioning itself as a tourism hub spanning culture, heritage, medicine, film and eco-tourism. These details were revealed by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC) in its Annual Report 2025, released on Wednesday (December 31). The report also set out an action plan for 2026.
A major development in Telangana tourism in 2025 was the introduction of the Telangana Tourism Policy 2025–2030, which seeks to drive holistic and sustainable growth through public-private partnerships, institutional reforms and destination-level planning. The policy envisages the creation of 27 Special Tourism Areas (STAs) across the state, supported by destination management organizations, to generate employment and boost local economies.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy along with Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Special Principal Secretary Tourism Jayesh Ranjan and Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Valluru Kranthi at the Telangana Rising Global Summit at Bharat Future City. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
As the state hosted Miss World 2025 and 110 contestants visited tourist and historical destinations across the state, the event served as a highly effective promotional platform to project Hyderabad as a safe, friendly and globally competitive destination for both tourism and investment.
Tourism reforms were further pushed through a tourism conclave held around World Tourism Day where the state secured investment commitments worth ₹15,279 crore in 30 projects. These projects, which include hospitality, eco-tourism and waterfront development, are expected to create nearly 50,000 jobs.
Key initiatives launched during the year included the Film-in-Telangana portal and the Medical Value Tourism (MVT) platform to position the state as a film-friendly destination and a reliable and affordable healthcare hub for both domestic and foreign patients. Telangana has also entered into a collaboration agreement with the Netherlands-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry to promote culinary and adventure tourism along with the launch of a culinary accelerator and culinary map of the state.
The safety and experience of visitors has been restored thanks to the deployment of more than 80 specially trained tourist police officers in key destinations. Since its full operation in October 2025, the Tourist Police has handled several rescue and relief cases at places such as Golconda Fort, Charminar and Ramappa Temple.
On the investment front, tourism also featured prominently at the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025 where commitments worth ₹7,045 crore were secured through around 10 projects with an estimated employment potential of 40,000 jobs.
The year also brought national and international recognition. The Bathukamma festival won two Guinness World Records in September 2025 for the tallest Bathukamma flower arrangement at 19.44 meters and the largest Telangana folk dance performance with 1,354 women participating.
In the field of physical infrastructure, 123 state tourism projects have been launched, of which 78 are completed and 47 are in process. Central government-backed projects worth ₹ 275 crore are underway at destinations including Ananthagiri Hills, Bhongir Fort, Buddhavanam, Ramappa Circuit, Nizam Sagar and Balkampet Yellamma temple, covering eco-tourism zones, experience centers and temple amenities, the report said.
For 2026, the tourism department has outlined an agenda that includes grounding PPP projects, unveiling destination master plans, completing pending central projects, upgrading Haritha hotels, operationalizing heli tourism, expanding medical tourism, holding many investor conclaves and summits, and intensifying national and international branding.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 19:54 IST
