Separate tourism bureau for Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Putting more thrust on the tourism sector, the state government has decided to set up a separate tourism bureau for the capital city of Hyderabad, which is emerging as a multi-destination for domestic and foreign tourists. According to state government’s direction, the municipal administration department has prepared a report on the Hyderabad city tourism bureau and has submitted it to the Chief Minister for his approval.

The tourism bureau will be planned in the lines of similar bureaus as in the US and European Union. Currently, tourism event organisers have to take permission from multiple agencies such as security clearness from the police and transportation from the RTC or the Railways. Against this backdrop, the state government is planning to bring all the services under one umbrella to promote tourism.

At present, multiple agencies look after the tourism sector in Hyderabad. The GHMC is responsible for roads, streets, flyovers, parks and open spaces, cleanliness and town planning. Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority looks after coordination and supervision of the Hyderabad metropolitan region. The tourism department manages tourism infrastructure and promotion of tourism. The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation provides infrastructure and other facilities to tourists visiting the state.

Mayor to head tourism bureau:

The city tourism bureau board will have a steering committee with GHMC mayor as chairman, tourism department secretary as executive chairman and the commissioners of GHMC and HMDA as vice-chairmen.

It will have tourism department commissioner, executive director of RTC city region, SCR manager, director of archaeology, city police commissioner and representatives from the hotels, tour operators, travel agencies and hospitality industry as members. GHMC and HMDA will provide 0.3 per cent its total Budget and the tourism department will allocate 10 per cent of the Budget.