Telangana Banks on Miss World Pageant to Boost Tourism

With the Miss World pageant underway in Hyderabad from May 10 to 31, the Telangana government is aiming for a 10% rise in tourist footfall. Officials hope the global spotlight on the event will help position the state among India’s top five tourist destinations. In 2023, Telangana saw 58.6 million tourists, and officials believe the pageant can significantly raise that number.

Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said the estimate is based on tourism department projections. “People visiting India often choose popular destinations like Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa, or Kerala. With this event, we’re highlighting Hyderabad and rural Telangana as safe and attractive alternatives,” he noted.

The state has invested around ₹30 crore, supported by sponsors, in organizing the event. Ranjan emphasized that all media generated—from photographs to videos—belongs to the Telangana government and will be used to promote the state globally.

Telangana’s broader tourism strategy aims to attract ₹15,000 crore in investments and create 3 lakh jobs by 2030. The goal is for tourism to contribute over 10% to the state’s GDP. The government is also focusing on sustained digital marketing and social media outreach, dividing the state into 27 Special Tourism Areas (STAs).

Key attractions include Hyderabad’s Charminar cluster (Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Laad Bazaar, Salarjung Museum, Nizam Museum, and Chowmahalla Palace), Warangal Fort, Pakhal Lake, and the Guduru Wildlife Sanctuary. Rural, spiritual, eco, wellness, and arts and crafts tourism are also being actively promoted.

Ranjan stressed the importance of follow-up. “Miss World is just the beginning. We’ll keep up the momentum with smaller events and sustained promotion to keep Telangana in the global tourism conversation,” he said.