Tamil Nadu boosts tourism push with cruise routes, ropeways & MICE bureau
Image Credits - The Hindu-3
In a push to position Chennai as a leading MICE destination, the government will establish a ‘Chennai MICE Promotion Bureau’.
Tamil Nadu is set to expand its tourism infrastructure with a series of new initiatives spanning cruise and ferry services, ropeways, MICE tourism, tourist safety and destination development.
Presenting 15 announcements for the Tourism Department during the Assembly’s demand for grants discussion, Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar said INR 2 crore has been earmarked to undertake feasibility studies for proposed cruise and ferry routes. The routes under consideration include Chennai - Kovalam, Poompuhar - Tharangambadi - Nagapattinam and Rameswaram - Thoothukudi -Kanyakumari.
The state is also evaluating ropeway projects in Kodaikanal and Ooty. According to the minister, feasibility studies are currently underway, with implementation to follow once the reports are completed.
Tourism infrastructure around dam destinations said to also receive a further INR 48 crore, with development works planned in Kanniyakumari, Tiruppur, Krishnagiri and Erode districts.
In a push to position Chennai as a leading MICE destination, the government will establish a ‘Chennai MICE Promotion Bureau’. The initiative aims to strengthen the city’s presence in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions segment, which the minister identified as an increasingly important area of tourism.
Tourist safety also said to receive attention, with INR 2 crore allocated for installing CCTV cameras at key tourist destinations. The government additionally plans to improve parking and basic amenities at film-shooting locations across the state through public-private partnerships.
The state has set aside INR 1 crore for tourism skill-development programmes aimed at people whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
Kanniyakumari district will receive INR 18 crore for the development of key tourist attractions, while INR 30 crore has been allocated towards visitor amenities, including drinking water, roads, rest areas and parking facilities.
(Source - The New Indian Express)
