Telangana Culinary Experiential Tourism Accelerator Unveiled
Telangana government is committed to enabling the state to contribute at least 10 per cent to the nation’s GDP over the next two decades
Hyderabad: Telangana government has unveiled the Telangana Culinary Experiential Tourism Accelerator (TCETA) — a first-of-its-kind initiative that redefines India’s culinary tourism landscape by merging heritage, innovation, and entrepreneurship into a global economic opportunity.
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, YAT&C, and CEO of SPEED, presided over the event and shared the government’s vision for building a thriving culinary economy over the next five years through innovation-led tourism and food-based entrepreneurship.
"In line with Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for India’s holistic prosperity, Telangana government is committed to enabling the state to contribute at least 10 per cent to the nation’s GDP over the next two decades. The Culinary Experiential Tourism Accelerator is a major step in this direction. By nurturing entrepreneurship, rural jobs, and branded food experiences, we aim to build an innovation-driven culinary tourism market. Our strategy is to bring together every stakeholder, chefs, startups, farmers, storytellers, and investors under a single umbrella, so that Telangana's food heritage can become a global engine for growth, employment, and pride." Jayesh Ranjan said.
The Culinary Lounge brings together Telangana government, the Netherlands ecosystem (NICCT), NICEorg (Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises), Telangana Tourism Development Corporation, investors, chefs, F&B entrepreneurs, and the rural innovation ecosystem under one shared vision to make Telangana a global hub for culinary and experiential tourism.
At the heart of TCETA lies a visionary partnership fusing Telangana’s vibrant food and tourism landscape with the Netherlands’ world-class strengths in agritech, food innovation and sustainability. A dedicated “Netherlands Track” co-created with Wageningen University & Research, FoodValley NL and StartLife connects Dutch experts and startups directly to India’s food and tourism ecosystem. This collaboration will drive pilot projects from sustainable farming to digital food tourism, making Telangana a benchmark for Indo-European innovation and rural-urban inclusion.
Adding a strong Indo–Dutch perspective to the initiative, Dr. Edith Nordmann, Chairperson of the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce & Trade (NICCT), highlighted the profound opportunity ahead, stating:
“Culinary tourism is far more than a travel experience — it is an economic engine that unites agriculture, innovation, entrepreneurship, and culture. Telangana’s vision to elevate its culinary identity to a global stage aligns perfectly with the Netherlands’ strengths in sustainable agri-innovation, food technology, and experiential tourism.”
“ Together, we can build new value chains, develop global-ready food experiences, and create opportunities for farmers, chefs, startups, and innovators in both countries. This initiative opens the door to a truly shared future,” he said.
TCETA aims to position the state as India’s leading hub for culinary innovation, food-tech, beverage innovation, and agri-entrepreneurship. The initiative will unite chefs, farmers, startups, investors, and cultural institutions to create scalable, sustainable models where food, storytelling, and innovation converge.