Hyderabad: Giving a big push to boosting tourism, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday directed officials to develop new policies aimed at attracting tourists, with a special focus on health, eco, and temple tourism, proposing a new zoo, a nature cure park and a health city.
Directives were issued during a high-level review meeting on the SPEED (Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery) projects held at the Secretariat on Friday. One of the major announcements from the meeting was the establishment of a new zoo park on approximately 1,000 acres on city outskirts.
The Chief Minister proposed that animals and birds from different regions be brought to the new zoo, with an urban forest to be developed around it. Drawing inspiration from the Vantara Wildlife Conservation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, set up by Anant Ambani, the Chief Minister suggested inviting industrialists and organisations to contribute to this project.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for Telangana to learn from the best practices of other states leading in tourism and adapt them to suit local conditions. He noted that the state should develop comprehensive tourism packages that cover transportation, accommodation, and other necessary facilities for tourists.
To enhance Telangana's appeal as a tourist destination, it was decided to formulate separate policies for temple tourism, eco-tourism, and health tourism. The Chief Minister instructed officials to make all ancient temples, historical sites, forest areas, and medical facilities in the state attractive to visitors. He also suggested exploring the possibility of organising safaris in the Kawal and Amrabad forest areas and developing overnight cottages in select locations.
Another highlight was the plan to develop a Nature Wellness Centre in the Anantagiri region, known for its rich natural forest wealth. The Chief Minister proposed using 200 acres of government land for this purpose, similar to the Jindal Nature Cure Institute in Bengaluru. Officials were directed to reach out to prominent organisations in the field of naturopathy to set up wellness centres in the region.
The Chief Minister also announced the development of a health city on a thousand-acre site in the upcoming Fourth City of Hyderabad, focusing on health tourism. He stressed the need for a new policy that would provide adequate incentives to organisations interested in establishing centres in this hub. The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of creating one-stop solution packages for medical services, making it easier for international visitors to access healthcare facilities, including online services and direct transportation from the airport to hospitals.
The Chief Minister underscored that the development of tourism should not only focus on infrastructure but also on the continuous improvement of management to attract tourists. He advocated for public-private partnerships in all new projects and emphasised that tourism should contribute to job creation and the overall development of the state.
Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Tourism Development Corporation chairman Patel Ramesh Reddy, Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, and senior officers from various departments were present.
