Buoyed by the Best Heritage City award, the state tourism department on Saturday announced a slew of measures to give tourism in the state a boost in the coming year.

Addressing a media gathering at a press conference held at the Secretariat, tourism secretary Chandana Khan announced the introduction of heritage corridor bus in the Old City on weekends, plans for revival of district festivals to promote folk art, and development of rural tourism spots like Pochampally, amongst other plans, to make the state a tourist friendly destination. "The Heritage Corridor Bus in the Old City will run from the third week of March this year. The objective is to conduct guided tours for tourists to Charminar and surrounding areas. The trip will end at Chowmahalla Palace," she said.

Fielding questions from the media about the dilapidated condition of many of city's heritage structures, she told that conservation is being planned in a big way by the government. "There are plans to have a scheme called 'Adopt a Monument'. Through this initiative we intend to reach out to corporate organizations and seek their assistance for heritage conservation," she informed media persons.