TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Government of Tamil Nadu has set aside ₹100 crore for the development of tourism in the state, and has identified 295 sites that will be developed for tourism purposes.
Manas Dwivedi
Buoyant on the success of the 2019 edition of CII Tamil Nadu Travel Mart (TTM) in Chennai and terming it as a game changer for the benefit of all stakeholders in the tourism sector, Apurva Varma, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, says that it is a power-surplus state with well-developed infrastructure, an excellent rail and road network, three major ports, 19 minor ports, as well as four international and three domestic airports.
Tamil Nadu Integrated Tourism Promotion Project will identify specific circuits and upgrade identified centres with quality amenities and infrastructure
Reiterating that these factors bode well for tourism in Tamil Nadu, he says, “More than 10 million foreign tourists come to India, and Tamil Nadu has been getting the highest share of tourists in the country for the last five years. The state is the second largest economy in India, ranking first among states in terms of number of factories and industrial workers. The state also holds the position of pride with five UNESCO World Heritage sites.”
The Government of Tamil Nadu has been working tirelessly to fully tap the state’s potential. Tourism-centric infrastructure, including logistics, hotels and restaurants, are being upgraded to international standards under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. For this, 295 sites have been identified for development as tourism destinations under Tamil Nadu Integrated Tourism Promotion Project, informs Varma. “This massive tourism promotion project will further attract domestic and international tourists by identifying specific circuits for domestic, Western and Asian tourists, as well as upgrading identified centres in these circuits with quality amenities and infrastructure,” he explains, adding that MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) worth ₹642 crore have already been signed during the Global Investors Meet 2019 for investment in the tourism sector.
