TN tourism gears up to welcome tourists

Chennai, March 23 With the international flights set to resume from March 27, Tamil Nadu tourism department is gearing up for tourist inflow to the state.

Tamil Nadu tourism secretary Chandramohan told IANS that the state is already prepared to receive the tourists. Celebrity photographers will be engaged to capture pictures of tourist destinations in the state to be displayed in all the airports.

As a first step, the photographs will be displayed widely in Coimbatore airport and from April onwards, Chennai and Madurai airports will follow suit, he said.

The state will also promote pilgrim tourism and a display system will be brought to provide details of these temples. It would also include details about the pooja timings, the period it was constructed and the deities.

After the state has reopened post-Covid-19, 75 per cent of the domestic tourism is back.

Role of private-public partnership is being redrawn in the state Chandramohan said, adding that a new comprehensive tourism policy will emerge in the state soon. He also said that a lot of departments are involved in inter-departmental consultation process before a final consensus is arrived at.

He also said that the joint project between Tamil Nadu Tourism Corporation and Royal Madras Yacht club for providing boating tourism as well as various water sports is in the final leg.

Chandramohan said: "To promote water sports in Chennai- Mahabalipuram sector, adventure sports guidelines are ready and released shortly. We will also be issuing guidelines on the Caravan tourism that is popular in North India."

The state tourism department is also in the process of coming out with guidelines for homestays. Medical tourism is another major area that is being promoted but the guidelines on the same are yet to be prepared.