Forex earnings jump this season

Chennai: The tourism ministry app­ears to have started on a healthy note this peak foreign tourist season. The foreign exchange earnings thr­ough tourism have incr­eased by 4.40 per cent in October this year registering a record Rs 8,513 crore.

The state, which stands second in the country after Maharashtra in terms of attracting foreign nationals, has been contributing a substantial sum. Monu­m­ents have been attracting the foreigners in a big way here.

During this period last year, foreign exchange to the tune of Rs 8,154 crore was received. Foreign to­urist arrivals (FTAs) in October, 2013 were 5.89 lakh as against 5.56 lakh in Oct­ober 2012 showing a growth of 5.94 per cent in the country.

Realising the potential, the state tourism officials have planned to frame a long-term policy to emerge as first state in India in attracting foreign and dom­estic tourists. Currently, Tamil Nadu is ranked third in luring domestic tourists.

Accordingly, the tourism department will take up a campaign to project the state as not only the land of temples but also one endo­wed with many tourist attractions.

According to sources, appropriate steps will be taken to render Tamil Nadu an all-season destination bringing the art and cuisine of the state into the focus of both global and domestic tourists. Efforts would be made to promote local products at international and inter-state levels.

Further, since the largest contribution to the tourism sector originates from the domestic tourist visits, a separate full-fledged strategy will be formulated for them without compromising on measures to attract more foreigners.

On the cards is to promote high-end tourism by enc­ouraging adventure tou­rism, cruise tourism, chartered flights and to enhance the quality of experience of visitors by ensuring cleanliness at tourist spots at various places in Tamil Nadu.