Hyderabad: The Telangana government will prepare proposals to host an international carnival modelled on Brazil’s world-famous Rio Carnival, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said on Tuesday.
Addressing a review meeting with senior officials at the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) office in Himayatnagar, the minister directed the department to plan a global event that would attract domestic and international tourists and elevate Telangana’s cultural profile.
The review included discussions on stalled tourism projects, budget hotels, and first-phase development of 27 priority tourist zones under the public-private partnership model. Jupally Krishna Rao said state tourism assets must be monetised and brought into productive use.
“Tourism must become economically self-sustaining,” he told officials, urging the department to rival private hotels and travel services in revenue generation. Authorities were instructed to aggressively promote Telangana’s tourism offerings, with a focus on branding, digital media outreach, and infrastructure for short stays like glamping tents and mobile toilets.
Officials were told to install signage along national highways and build way-side amenities. The minister also pushed for expansion of water-based adventure sports, suggesting study visits to other states for implementation models.
He stressed that flagship festivals such as Bonalu, Bathukamma, Sammakka-Sarakka jatara, and Nagoba jatara should be promoted as major cultural events to draw visitors from across India and abroad.
Tourism Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, TSTDC Managing Director Valluru Kranti, Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Patel Ramesh Reddy, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Officials were directed to implement all projects within fixed timelines and ensure pending files are digitised. Minister Jupally Krishna Rao made clear there would be no tolerance for delays or inefficiency.
