The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Steps on to revive tourism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Steps on to revive tourism

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI, JAN. 11. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has drawn up short and long-term action plans to ensure that the flowof tourists to the major destinations in the States reaches the normal level.

According to highly-placed official sources, under the short-term plan, efforts are already on torevivedomestic tourist arrival by the end of this month. "We are working on a war-footing to restore at least 20 seaside cottages out of the 50 which were extensively damaged because of the tsunami at the Mamallapuram beach resort complex."

The dance festival at Mamallapuram, which was suspended on account of the December 26 tsunami, is starting from January 7 and will go on till January 31.

This follows requests from overseas and domestic tourists at the Mamallapuram's Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation's (TTDC) office.

Cancellation of tours

Stating that there had been several enquiries from the travel trade and tour operators from within the country and abroad, the sources said there were cancellations from overseas visitors immediately after the tsunami struck.

The Government was paying serious attention to the massive rehabilitation work relating to the livelihood of the fishermen community, sculptors and craftsmen, sources said 20 cottages would be operationalised by the month end at the Mamallapuram beach resort complex. Efforts are on to undertake the repair work at the Muttukadu boat jetty and Mudaliar Kuppam boatyard.

The total loss of the beach resort complex and the two boat jetties have been put at Rs. 4 crores.

The sources said shops and commercial establishments have opened at Mamallapuram. The Sea Shore Temple, the Tiger Cave, Arjuna's Penance and the Five Rathas have not been damaged.

Ferry service

The Poompuhar Shipping Corporation has initiated the process of re-starting the ferry service at Kanyakumari which was suspended as some boats were washed away and some damaged.

"Enchanting Tamil Nadu", the brand image of the Tamil Nadu Tourism, launched in 2003 has caught on well globally and nationally among the travel trade and tour operators. "We are now working on a sustainable brand image building programme of `Enchanting Tamil Nadu' to effectively tackle the aftermath of the tsunami," the sources said.

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