Telangana to leverage AI, digital technology to boost tourism: Dy CM Bhatti Vikramarka
Hyderabad, Sept 26 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday called for leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology to elevate the state’s tourism sector to international standards and establish Telangana as a distinctive destination on the global tourism map.
Speaking at the World Tourism Day–2026 celebrations held at Shilparamam here, along with Tourism, Culture and Archaeology Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Bhatti stressed the need to modernise tourism services and promote the state’s natural, historical, spiritual and cultural attractions internationally.
The Deputy Chief Minister unveiled a redesigned Telangana Tourism website and a coffee-table book showcasing the state’s tourist destinations.
Several other initiatives, including an online homestay registration system, tourism promotional videos, an interactive augmented and virtual reality-based learning management system, and eco-tourism campaigns, were also launched.
Bhatti said Telangana had considerable potential in health, temple, rural and nature tourism.
He cited the state’s tiger reserves, forests, waterfalls, ancient temples and historical monuments as major attractions and directed officials to strengthen their international promotion.
He also noted that work on wellness centres had commenced in Vikarabad.
Emphasising infrastructure development, he said the government was according greater priority to tourism and stressed the need to attract investments for international-standard hotels and other facilities through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
He suggested promoting weekend tourism among Hyderabad’s IT professionals through special packages and tourism coupons.
He directed the Tourism Minister and department secretary to hold discussions with leading IT companies and tourism project operators to develop suitable plans.
On the occasion, an MoU was also signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and the Telangana government’s Archaeology Department in the presence of Jupally Krishna Rao.
A panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology – The Future of Tourism” was held as part of the celebrations, focusing on emerging opportunities in eco-tourism, film tourism, sports tourism and heritage tourism.
Tourism officials, tourist guides, homestay operators, tourist police personnel, students from Youth Tourism Clubs and film personalities attended the event.
Excellence awards and certificates were presented to outstanding performers and participants on the occasion.
TNT TS
