Telangana plans 100 weekend tourism hotspots for short-trip seekers

Telangana is stepping up to give a major push to promote weekend tourism, with the Tourism Department working on a plan to identify around 100 short-trip destinations that can be packaged as one to two-day excursions out of Hyderabad, said State Tourism Department’s Special Chief Secretary, Jayesh Ranjan.

With a large and growing workforce in the IT sector, services industry, data centres, and academic institutions, presents a massive opportunity. He estimated that nearly 2.5 million people in these sectors form a natural market for short breaks. “Tourism, today has evolved into a lifestyle choice for many, particularly young professionals who plan their calendars around travel, mixing international and domestic holidays with weekend getaways,” he said delivering a keynote address at a conference on ‘Building the Weekend Tourism Economy’ organised by Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Hyderabad on Saturday (November 15, 2025).

Mr. Ranjan said there is often an unfavourable comparison for Hyderabad with cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi or Mumbai, which are seen as having more options for short excursions. The preliminary evaluation by Telangana Tourism, however, shows that the State can easily identify at least 100 locations suitable for weekend or long-weekend trips.

To illustrate this approach, he detailed the proposed plan for Pochampally in Yadadri Bhongir district. “We have identified a street where traditional weaving practices continue. Local weavers use varied techniques involving pit looms, motorised looms, and different weaving styles. Visitors will be able to walk through the lane, observe the differences between weaving techniques, and even try their hand at weaving a cloth sample,” he said.

People prefer immersive experiences

Managing Director of Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC), Valluru Kranthi, said that the department plans to introduce ten to fifteen activities in every cluster. These include adventure sports, safaris in nearby forests, boating on reservoirs, fishing, visits to temples and water bodies and other nature-based experiences. She noted that tourists today want more than just a photograph at a monument and increasingly seek immersive experiences that help them understand the place and its people.

To cater to the growing number of delegates arriving in Hyderabad for conferences and business events, the department will also be introducing customised tours. These include personalised itineraries based on visitor preferences, complete with airport pick-up, guided excursions to chosen destinations and drop-offs. Information on tourist sites will be shared with conference organisers in advance so that delegates can extend their stay by a day or even half-a-day if they choose, she added.