In a bid to promote tourism, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has launched innovative package tours and tourist-friendly autos and is also developing lesser-known tourist destinations in the State, according to Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director. Mohan doss.
Elaborating on the TTDC initiatives at a press conference here on Thursday , Dr.Mohandass said,” The TTDC has started a new Rail-cum-Road Package tour in which rail tickets are given to passengers from select cities to Chennai from where TTDC luxury coaches ferry them to various places of tourist interest in the State. We are also promoting adventure tourism.”
“The TTDC has launched an initiative to bring about tourist-friendly auto-rickshaws wherein willing auto drivers are trained in hospitality, tourist information and English. These autos, which can be identified by their different color, are meant not only outside but also for local tourists,” he said.
He also spoke about the novel venture of the TTDC known as” Hip-on-Hop-off Tour “in ht estate in the East Coast Road to Mamallapuram.
Highlighting the charms of Tamil Nadu as a tourist destination, Dr.Mohandass said,” There are different segments of tourism in the State – handloom and handicrafts, rural, business, wellness, adventure, spiritual, wild life, beach, caravan…… The region has a rich heritage of art, literature and music; besides, it is also one of the most industrialized states in the country.”
Dr.Mohandass added that Tamil Nadu had been honored with eight awards for tourism in the past and was also home to five UNESCO-designated heritage sites.
Speaking about the boom in wellness tourism in Chennai and the country in general, Dr.Mohandass said,” Foreigners make a beeline for India because of affordable medical treatment, the presence of the best doctors and paramedics and also a number of specialized hospitals.”
Tamil Nadu Principal Resident Commissioner in New Delhi R.N. Choubey said Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Kerala were among the top tourist destinations in the country.”Tourism contributes a great deal towards the states and national economies .In order to give a fillip to tourism in Tamil Nadu,it is important to develop a tourist friendly atmosphere and ease of travel within the state.Also,since all activities are web-based including registration, bookings and reservations ,good facilities should be available for the tourist websites,” adding that tourism was no longer uni-dimensional but encompassed a number of spheres such as religion, history,archaeology,business and wellness.
Speaking about the move to promote lesser know tourist destinations in the State, Tamil Nadu Tourism and Culture Department Secretary V.Irai Anbu said,” We want to de-congest popular tourist locations. There are around 18 relatively lesser known places that we aim to promote such as Yelagiri, Yercaud and Hogenakkal.”
Dr.Anbu said the best time to visit Tamil Nadu was between September and February.
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