‘Hosting Miss World will put Telangana on global tourism map’

Tourism Secretary Smita Sabharwal during an interview on Telangana, which hosted Miss World 2025 in Hyderabad on Thursday. , Photo Credit: Nagra Gopal

As Telangana prepares to host the 72nd edition of Miss World from 4 to 31 May, the state is expected to place the state on a global tourism map. In a special interview with Siddharth Kumar Singh, Smita Sabharwal, Principal Secretary of Youth Production, Tourism and Culture, shared his ability to show insight on the importance of this event and the world’s rich heritage and hospitality.

About a month ago, the Miss World team reached us via email. Steve Douglas Morley of Miss World Organization, also part of the founding family, personally approached us. The discussion passed through various stages, and it was clear from the beginning that they are deeply committed to promoting local culture. This proposal was welcomed by this proposal and was engaged in many discussions that I see it as a golden opportunity to promote Telangana tourism. Participating in 140 countries and over 3,000 media partners covered the program for 28 days, it offers a unique platform to demonstrate the heritage and attraction of our state.

We have incredible destinations that remain relatively unexplained. For example, Ramappa Temple, Yadgirigutta, Kawal Tiger Reserve and Amarabad Tiger Reserve, all these sites provide various experiences from temple tourism to eco-tourism. However, they have not been marketed extensively. During this one month’s long event, my goal is to package and present Telangana’s rich cultural tapestry, including its food, handloom and destination. Another important aspect is ensuring that the spotlight is not only on Hyderabad but also on other parts of Telangana. We are interacting with the Railways to operate Vande India’s vehicles during the incident, making it easier for participants to detect various parts of the state.

We are working on thematic campaigns that align with the strength of Telangana. For example, Hyderabad is one of the top sites for medical tourism in the country, and with participants from 140 countries, we want to reveal the city as a global healthcare center. We are curing strategies to keep Telangana in an effective position, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) holds public imagination. Additionally, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) of Hyderabad is considered one of the best airports in the world. During the event, we will use it as a promotional tool, highlighting the proximity, how some tourists are just one or two hours away from the spot airport, thus instill confidence in international visitors.

Security is a priority. We are ensuring a safe tourist ecosystem, including establishing a dedicated tourist police force. When we first met the Miss World team, we invited her to visit the Telangana Police Integrated Command and Control Center in Hyderabad. We demonstrated our surveillance and security mechanisms, which greatly assured them about security standards here.

This is prematurely to estimate the exact economic boost, but I can confidently say that immense benefits in the hospitality sector will experience bounce to hotels, public transport and tourism services. While this phenomenon is more than a branding initiative compared to the direct revenue generator, long -term effects will be sufficient. With participants from 140 countries, global risk will open doors for future tourism and investment. We are working with hotels and logistic partners to ensure that they offer their best services as they host the arrival of international guests.

Typically, the Miss World Organization works on a 50–50 partnership model with the host state. We are still discussing the nuances of investment, and the fine details are being worked on.

We have communicated our concerns about rising temperatures in May. However, the Miss World team is firm on these dates due to its own scheduling and commercial commitments. He said, many events will be broadcast in a controlled environment, and we are discussing the scheduling of most external activities in the evening to reduce the risk of heat. Once the places finalize the places, Telangana will apply measures to ensure comfort for tourism participants and visitors.

Absolutely. We are inviting top artisans across the state to demonstrate our rich cultural heritage. We are planning to set up a dedicated platform, possibly in Shilparamam among other places, where international visitors can characterize a mega arts carnival of Telangana’s best handicrafts, textiles and art forms.

The management of the city’s traffic is a collective effort. Fortunately, May is a month when educational institutions are closed, and IT professionals often have flexible work hours. We guess that these factor will help reduce the crowd. The state government is coordinating in departments to ensure smooth transport logistics throughout the program.