The Department of Tourism has initiated the Yuva Tourism Clubs and Telangana Darshini programme with the aim of creating awareness among students about the State's tourism, cultural, heritage and ecological assets, and to promote responsible tourism among the youth. An orientation meeting on the implementation strategy and operational framework of the two programmes was held in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The Yuva Tourism Clubs programme seeks to encourage students to participate in tourism-related activities, heritage awareness campaigns, environmental conservation initiatives, and the promotion of local culture and traditions.

The Telangana Darshini programme includes educational exposure visits to key tourist destinations, heritage sites, cultural centres and eco-tourism attractions across the State.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Venkata Ramana, Director of the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), highlighted the growing importance of homestays in promoting sustainable and community-based tourism. He said homestays provide visitors with authentic cultural experiences while creating livelihood opportunities for rural communities. He noted that the State government has identified several villages for tourism development under rural tourism initiatives, including Tekmal village, to showcase Telangana's rich cultural heritage, local traditions, crafts and rural way of life.

Tourism Special Chief Secretary A. Vani Prasad said Telangana had secured the top position in the country in registrations for Yuva Tourism Clubs, accounting for nearly 5,000 of the approximately 9,000 registrations recorded nationwide. She urged educational institutions to actively participate in the programme and leverage it as a platform to foster tourism awareness and responsible travel practices among students.

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