Telangana hosts tourism roadshow in San Francisco

The government is offering NRI investors land subsidies and leases as well tax incentives to invest in this area of tourism. Land allotment on a long lease of 33 years and, for major investments, up to 50 years is on offer.

Telangana Tourism Roadshow at Grand Hyatt in San Francisco. / Ritu Marwah

Earlier this week, the Indian state of Telangana held a tourism roadshow in San Francisco, California. The event took place at the Grand Hyatt hotel and was led by Prakash Reddy, managing director of the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Limited.

The Consul General of India in San Francisco, K. Srikar Reddy, graced the event and engaged with community members. Reddy shared the government of Telangana’s plans for a new focus on tourism. “Telangana is well-suited for eco, lake, temple, health and wellness tourism and the state government has allocated funds in the annual budget with this in mind. A new tourism policy is being implemented with the goal of making Telangana the top destination in the country,” he said.

He showcased the state's wildlife tourism, eco-tourism and Buddhist spiritual tourism destinations. The latter attracts Buddhists from all over the world. Along with the monastery at Buddhavanam, the Buddha statue in Hussainsagar and the historical sites in Phanigiri and Nelakondapalli form the Buddhist circuit. Telangana government plans to develop the Buddhist tourism circuit in Telangana by setting up an International Buddha Museum in Buddhavanam to attract Buddhists from all over the country and link it to the Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar along with the historical sites in Phanigiri and Nelakondapalli.

Reddy also highlighted the arts and crafts of the area like Dhokra, Bidri and silver filigree metal crafts, Ikat, Narayanpet and Pochampally handlooms, Cheriyall scroll paintings among others.

Public-Private Partnership offered to develop tourism infrastructure

The government is offering incentives and subsidies for private sector collaborations aimed at developing tourism infrastructure under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Reddy highlighted the state’s abundant heritage sites, monuments and temples, along with natural attractions like Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam, which offer huge potential for tourism development.

The Congress government has prioritized tourism and is working to develop and promote tourist spots across the state.

“There are many beautiful places beyond Hyderabad as well that have abundant resources, and are of historical importance,” said MD Reddy. “The Nagarjunasagar reservoir in the midst of green hills, was an ideal place for a destination wedding. Similarly, the Somasila backwaters in Kollapur on the banks of the Krishna river as well as Vikarabad.”

The government is offering NRI investors land subsidies and leases as well tax incentives to invest in this area of tourism. Land allotment on a long lease of 33 years and, for major investments, up to 50 years is on offer.

Tourism projects where investment is less than ₹50 crore (approx. US$60,000) are eligible for complementary/linkage infrastructure development assistance of 5 percent of the total project cost or ₹2 crore (approx US$ 23,000) whichever is lesser. The projects are categorized under hotels, resorts, heritage hotels, amusement parks, MICE centers, golf courses, botanical gardens, tourism and hospitality training institutes, wayside amenities and spiritual wellness centers, among others.

Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao along with Reddy will be taking the roadshow to Los Angeles on Oct. 7.