Telangana forum spotlights weekend travel as a new economic engine
HYDERABAD, Nov 15 (The CONNECT) — Tourism is no longer casual recreation but a lifestyle choice shaping how urban India spends time, money, and weekends, Special Chief Secretary (Tourism) Jayesh Ranjan said at India’s first national conference on the Weekend Tourism Economy hosted at NITHM on Saturday.
Addressing resort owners, tourism professionals, investors and students, Ranjan said the shift is driven by a young workforce craving frequent, restorative breaks. “Nearly 2.5 million people in IT and Life Sciences look for short getaways. Tourism today is a lifestyle,” he said, urging industry players to leverage Telangana’s new tourism policy, enriched experiences, and incentives. He pointed to Pochampally as a model of craft-culture-cuisine layering that could be replicated across emerging weekend circuits.
The event was organised by the Tourism Committee of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), in association with the Tourism Department of the Government of Telangana, the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), Incredible India, Ramoji Film City, Pragathi Resorts, and Summer Green Resorts
TGTDC Managing Director Valluru Kranthi said almost a million IT professionals in Hyderabad are seeking quick, wellness-driven escapes. Telangana, she said, must identify at least 150 weekend getaways and promote them with curated experiences. The new Tourism Policy (2025–30) has already attracted ₹15,000 crore in investments across 31 projects, with nine tourism clusters under development and a wider plan for 27 clusters.
Ramoji Film City’s A.V. Rao highlighted new glamping experiences designed for short-break travelers, noting that “tourists trust tourists” and that peer influence will drive adoption. The event also saw an MoU between NITHM and entrepreneur Ravi Bura to train rural women in wedding services — a fast-growing tourism segment.
FTCCI President Ravi Kumar said the ambition is clear: position Hyderabad as India’s Weekend Tourism Capital. Committee leaders Prakash Ammanabolu and D. Ramchandram noted that while national tourism summits have encouraged metro-centric short-trip circuits, this conference marks India’s first structured dialogue dedicated solely to the Weekend Tourism Economy.
Ramchandram added that Hyderabad is ringed by 460 potential getaways within 150–200 km — from eco-retreats and adventure zones to heritage corridors and farm stays — making Telangana an ideal pilot state for a replicable weekend-tourism model.
High-impact speaker sessions explored digital storytelling, heritage-based itineraries, eco-tourism opportunities and the role of micro-travel in shaping modern behaviour. A multistakeholder panel wrapped up the conference with perspectives from global advisors, heritage custodians, tourism entrepreneurs and travel-tech leaders.
The FTCCI Tourism Committee said weekend travel can become a powerful year-round growth engine: strengthening rural economies, enhancing wellness, decongesting major tourist hubs and nurturing civic pride. “For urban citizens seeking wellness, family time and rejuvenation, weekend travel is becoming a necessity,” the committee said.
