Telangana seeks US funding for tourism projects

Telangana's tourism department is courting investors, business leaders and Indian‑origin professionals in the United States ahead of the Invest Telangana Global Summit scheduled for December in Hyderabad. Tourism Special Chief Secretary Vani Prasad met high‑net‑worth investors, media personalities and business heads in the US, showcasing eight designated Special Tourism Areas where new projects can be set up. She outlined chances to invest in hotels, tourist attractions, museums, tech‑enabled visitor services and data‑driven solutions, saying investors could help build world‑class infrastructure and lift the visitor experience beyond Hyderabad. Former National Geographic vice‑president and publisher Dawn Drew called Telangana an undiscovered gem and praised the state's emerging tourism prospects. Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao noted the warm response from the US investor community and said tourism can generate jobs for people of all ages, genders and education levels while offering big openings for entrepreneurs. He added the government is determined to make Telangana a globally recognised tourism destination. A delegation led by Prasad and Director of Tourism Ranjeet Nayak is also taking part in the World Travel Expo in Miami, an event that features more than 400 exhibitors from 70 countries. The outreach aims to channel private capital into the sector, boost local employment and position Telangana as a top choice for domestic and international tourists.## Context The eight Special Tourism Areas are zones earmarked by the state to concentrate resources on heritage sites, natural landscapes and cultural circuits, a strategy meant to create focused growth hubs and attract specialised investment.