Efforts taken by the Tamil Nadu government over the years have resulted in the State retaining the first position with respect to the arrival of tourists for the past four years, according to Tourism Minister Vellamandi N. Natarajan.
Inaugurating the annual Indian Dance Festival 2018-19 at Mamallapuram on December 23, the Minister said the arrival of tourists to the State, both at National and International levels, had constantly increased from the calendar year 2014 to last year. While the foreign tourists’ arrival has increased from 46 lakh in 2014 to 48 lakh last year, the domestic tourists’ footfall increased by 174 lakh last year from 3,276 lakh in 2014.
As far as Mamallapuram was concerned, he said the number of tourist arrivals had touched 150 lakh in 2017, while it hovered around 125 lakh in 2014. Infrastructure development works were being taken up at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation’s (TTDC) boating facilities in Mudaliyarkuppam and Muttukadu, he added.
Tourism Secretary Apurva Varma, Rural Industries Minister P. Benjamin, Chairman and Managing Director of the TTDC V. Palanikumar and Kancheepuram District Collector P. Ponnaiah participated in the function.