Chief Minister M K Stalin introduced Tamil Nadu’s inaugural “Tourism Policy” in a historic move, marking a significant development for the state’s tourism sector. The “Tourism Policy 2023” is set to drive Tamil Nadu to new heights in the tourism industry, aligning with the state’s ambitious goal of achieving a USD 1 Trillion economy by 2030.
This forward-looking policy has several key objectives, including attracting investments totaling Rs 20,000 crore over the next five years. It offers a framework for strategic interventions, appealing incentives, and essential regulatory reforms designed to facilitate investment and foster private sector involvement in the tourism domain. Additionally, the policy places a strong emphasis on establishing a sustainable tourism ecosystem in Tamil Nadu, with a focus on ensuring safe and high-quality experiences for visitors.
The policy envisions elevating Tamil Nadu’s tourism sector beyond its traditional appeal centered around temples and ancient architecture. It seeks to tap into the untapped potential of the state as a diverse tourist destination with a rich array of attractions.
The policy aims to make tourism a major economic sector in Tamil Nadu, increasing revenue for the local economy and fostering sustainable growth. It sets ambitious targets such as contributing at least 12% of the state’s GDSP annually, generating employment opportunities for over 25 lakh people, and facilitating skill development for three lakh workers in tourism and related industries. To promote a conducive business environment, the policy establishes a “Tourism Facilitation Cell.” Tourism projects will be categorized under three heads based on their investment size, simplifying the approval process. The tourism department will prioritize 12 distinct themes, including adventure, recreation, caravan, rural and plantation, coastal, cultural, medical and wellness, eco-tourism, MICE, heritage, religious, and film tourism.
The “Tourism Policy” is slated to remain in effect for five years from the date of its notification, or until a new policy is introduced. It is expected to bring transformative changes to Tamil Nadu’s tourism landscape, positioning the state as a premier destination while fostering economic growth and sustainability.
The Tamil Nadu government has accorded industry status to the tourism sector as part of its new tourism policy, aiming to attract investments of up to ₹20,000 crore. Over the next five years, the state seeks to develop into Asia’s most appealing experiential destination. One of the notable features of the policy is the proposal to establish a large-format amusement park on the outskirts of Chennai, similar to global giants like Disney and Universal Studios. The state envisions private sector participation in this endeavor.
Cities such as Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Kanniyakumari are set to be developed as gateway hubs, with a dedicated allocation of 5% from the Smart City funds to enhance tourism infrastructure in these primary hubs.
To maximize the potential of its rich natural and cultural assets, the state government has prepared and approved conceptual master plans for approximately 300 tourism sites. These plans encompass culture and heritage sites, hills and hill stations, nature trails, coastal destinations, and temples, with phased development for selected sites.
Accessibility is a key focus, with plans to improve connectivity to remote locations lacking robust road or rail infrastructure. Additionally, major tourist attractions will undergo physical infrastructural enhancements to ensure accessibility for differently-abled individuals.
Wayside amenities, developed through public-private partnerships (PPP), will be strategically placed along state and national highways to facilitate comfortable transit for visitors.Incentives such as capital subsidies, interest subventions, payroll support, and quality certification will be provided to promote tourism-related businesses and initiatives under three distinct categories.
The state intends to launch cruise facilities on select routes, including Chennai – Rameswaram – Kanniyakumari and Chennai – Port Blair, with plans for jetty infrastructure development at these locations. Private cruise operators will be encouraged to offer services on these routes.
Furthermore, the policy underscores the significance of responsible tourism and sustainable practices. It promotes measures to minimize the environmental impact of tourism, including rainwater harvesting, renewable energy utilization, and effective waste management.
The state will leverage technology for data-driven planning and monitoring to establish an efficient data collection and analysis system for informed decision-making. This analytics mechanism will monitor the implementation of policy reforms and other tourism initiatives at the ground level.
In sum, Tamil Nadu’s new tourism policy reflects a comprehensive approach aimed at transforming the state into a premier tourist destination while prioritizing sustainability, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
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