Tamil Nadu tourism taking the road less travelled too

A riyaman beach, Kolli Hills, Megamalai, Pichavaram and Pulicat were well-kept secrets among local tourists. But, of late, these offbeat destinations are getting visitors from other states.
On the business front, the interest in new destinations is a boon for the southern state, which is one of the largest tourism markets in India, say industry sources. Tamil Nadu Travel Mart Society president D Karunanidhi says visitors from all over the country travelling to Rameswaram are also exploring Ariyaman, thanks to the pristine beach.
“Of late, it has emerged as one of the most happening places in Ramanathapuram district. Similar is the case with the Pichavaram mangrove forest near Chidambaram, which is included inseveral Chola trails that gained momentum after the release of Ponniyin Selvan last year,” he says.
Earlier, travellers from other states largely flocked to prominentheritage, spiritual and mountain circuits such as Mamallapuram, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, The Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. Tour operators are now promoting other destinations as add-ons. For instance, tourists travelling to Kodaikanal are offered a day trip to Megamalai in Theni district, especially for nature lovers.
Kolli Hills in Namakkal calls to bikers from Bengaluru and Kochi to take on the 70 hairpin bends to the top. In fact, bikers from as far awayas Delhi and Gujarat fly down to Coimbatore and hire two-wheelers from Salem for the thrill of the ride up Kolli Hills.
Sriharan Balan, managing director, Madura Travel Service, says the number of corporate employees to the hill station scaled up after industrialist Anand Mahindra shared an image of the picturesque ghat road on Twitter. “Travellers to the hill station specifically come for biking and camping,” he says. Pulicat, about 60 km north of Chennai, also attracts groups from other states.
Some 10% to 12% of Tamil Nadu’s GDP was contributed by tourism and allied sectors in 2021-22. Data from the state tourism department reveals that domestic tourists recorded nearly a 90% growth from 11. 5 crore in 2021 to 21. 8 crore in 2022.
M K Ajit Kumar, president, AsiaPacific Tours, says state governments play a major role in promoting offbeat destinations. “TTDC must create accommodation in such destinations,” he says. Kerala has opened up several such little known tourist spots, he says, with homestays as one of the options to enhance accommodation.
Tourism secretary B Chandra Mohan says the state government is taking up several initiatives to promote less-known tourist spots. “A camping site is coming up at Ariyaman and Pichavaram is undergoing major upgrade including boating, which is ready for this season. Vathalmalai, one of the offbeat destinations in Dharmapuri district, is being developed with adventure tourism, bird watching and camping facilities,” he told TOI