The Pearl city of Hyderabad in South India offers a rich cultural and historical

tradition. From the signature monument Charminar and the incredible Golconda Fort
to the vibrant bazaars that attract millions of visitors worldwide, Hyderabad is
considered as the Heritage City of India. The potential for the travel and tourism
industry in India is enormous. Various modes of transportation are available,
however, at the same time; the industry faces various challenges, of which the most
important is the lack of proper infrastructure and the other challenges being
inadequate security, human safety and proper resources (facilities).
The main modes of transportation in this magnificent city are railroads, autorickshaws, buses, cars and on-foot. The railway system in Hyderabad is one of the
biggest in India, a service known as the Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS).
Around 84 MMTS trains travel around the city to various destinations including
Charminar where the best shops in the city are. The only problem however is that
MMTS centers are always crowded as it is the fastest service to reach any part of
the city.
The next best alternative in this city is the Auto (Auto-rickshaw). Used in short and
long-distance traveling, these three-wheeled vehicles take visitors and local people
to shopping markers, bus stands, homes and other destinations. It is cheap and
generally faster on the busy streets.
Taxi Cars is the next mode of transportation. Even though self and chauffeur driven
cars are efficient and luxurious unlike railways and auto rickshaw systems, cars face
traffic jams problem. In Hyderabad, traffic jams are always there, lasting for hours.
Also, the number of accidents is really high. According to the Compendium on Road
Accidents article, 276 fatalities occurred in 2003.
Hyderabad, just like Railway systems, also has a good local bus system. Run by the
APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation), buses in this city
are all Air-conditioned. The negative side however is that the buses tend to get
extremely crowded and the conditions in the buses are very bad.
Though the Tourism Industry has invested in an international airport to attract
travelers , the amenities at the port of entry such as telecommunication, airport
hotel accommodations, drinking water supply and clean waiting rooms and toilets
are not available and do not meet the requirements of the tourists. The cafeterias
and parking facilities too are other issues to be concerned about. The
transportation infrastructure is inadequate and the public safety policies are not as
effective. Local governments at municipal level rely on state government grants for
their infrastructure projects. The safety concerns of pedestrians are not addressed
adequately as reduced vehicle speed policy is rarely implemented. The problems of
congestion and road safety at the port of entry need to be tackled as an urgent
issue.

Another major challenge is a lack of skilled manpower in the travel tourism industry.
Due to a lack of qualified trainers and proper strategies for human resource
development the tourism industry is being adversely affected and the Ministry of
Tourism needs to address these issues at the earliest. The staff at airports, taxi
operators, travel agencies and tour guides is not adequately trained to attract
tourists.
The provision for shopping and recreational facilities is insufficient and travelers
face hindrances traveling even short distances within the city due to inadequate
public transport services. Although services are available they do not meet the
transport demands for millions of people. The demand for public transport has been
on the rise due to substantial increase in population. This is in turn due to migration
from rural areas and the City transport systems are unable to meet their travel
demands. The quality of life due to rising air pollution is a serious issue for the
Ministry of Urban Development to tackle
Another major problem is food and water pollution. In Hyderabad, restaurants are a
big problem for the local people, as well as foreign citizens. First time travelers to
the city of Hyderabad sometimes face Malaria, indicated by fever, chills and flu-like
illnesses. Before traveling to India, people (travelers) recommend that Malaria
shots should be taken.
Another major challenge is the language barrier. In Hyderabad, most of the citizens
speak Telugu, the regional language. Due to this, foreign travelers have a hard time
adapting to the environment as only a few of the Hyderabad citizens are bilingual.
Therefore, it is important to have a travel-guide to help visit and have a good
experience.
Security is another major problem for several years especially for women traveling
alone during late evening hours. Theft of personal property is common on buses and
trains. Foreign travelers are usually victims of passport and credit card thefts. The
Police Help Hotline may not respond immediately and their job effectiveness varies.
The recent terrorist attacks in 2007 and 2013 in the city of Hyderabad is another
major challenge and raises concerns of safety. The increase in road traffic
accidents and air pollution are at their peak in metropolitan cities like Hyderabad
due to inefficient vehicles and fuels .In the recent World Health Organization Global
Status Report on Road Safety, India had the second worst traffic accident rate
worldwide with more than 143,000 deaths annually.
Visa availability for international tourists is restricted with reference to duration of
stay and creates hurdles for tourists for extended stay approvals.