Former Director General of Police P. Ramulu, who took over as chairman of Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) on Sunday, said he would strive to promote adventure tourism packages in the State that offered steep climb down.
Wherever the locations offered a clear fall of say, 1,000 metres, like Bhongir and Ananthagiri Hills near Vikarabad, he said he would offer packages to adventure tourists in paragliding, rappelling (controlled descent down a rock-face) and rock-climbing.
Speaking to media persons after assuming charge at the corporate office of the corporation at Himayatnagar, Mr. Ramulu said about 60 per cent of India’s population comprised people in the age group of 25 to 30 years. “Why should we force them to go to temples or other pilgrim centres when they want adventure? And that’s what we will offer,” he said. Tourism Minister A. Chandulal and TSTDC Managing Director Christina Z. Chongthu were also present. He said he had ambitious plans for the development of the sector in Telangana and was seriously considering tourist attractions like a Ferris Wheel and a Disney Park in the long term. While putting up a Ferris Wheel is relatively easy and helps generate revenue, Disney Park is something that needs huge investments on which the returns will come slowly. The corporation will do everything to put Hyderabad on the international tourist circuit. Other areas with tourism potential, he said, were water sports for which the Lower Manair Dam, Pakala, Ramappa and Kadem Dam could offer facilities for speed boating. He recalled a World Bank survey that said the tourism sector provided the maximum number of jobs. Earlier, Mr. Chandulal said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao chose Mr. Ramulu for the post as he was an experienced civil servant. The government aims to showcase Telangana as one of the best tourist destinations in the country.
