Tourist arrivals to Tamil Nadu up 6%

Tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu in the first 10 months of 2011 has surpassed the total tourist arrivals into the state in the full year of 2010, according to the state government.

Speaking after the inauguration of Indian Dance Festival 2012 at Mahabalipuram, near here, S Gokula Indira, state tourism minister, said TN had seen a total inflow of 112.3 million tourists in 2011, till October, while it was around 105. 8 million in the 12 months in 2010.

Domestic tourists accounted for around 109.8 million of the total tourists who visited the state between January and October, 2011, while the number of foreign tourists stood at 25,74,051 during the period.

Compared with this, the domestic tourists in 2010 were around 103 million and foreign tourists 28,04,504.

The department of tourism is taking various steps including development of infrastructure facilities at tourist destinations through various schemes. These include state funded schemes for Rs 11.92 crore, development of road in tourist centres for last mile connectivity with around Rs 10 crore and a central financial assistance schemes of around Rs 21.78 crore.

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa had recently announced a seven-point programme to develop infrastructure and other amenities for the tourism sector in the state with an estimated expenditure of Rs 550 crore.