Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Funding agency sees tourism potential in second tier cities

Special Correspondent

Official sees immense scope in Pollachi, Kancheepuram and Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Even as it funds tourism projects in major locations across the country, the Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) sees immense scope in similar ventures in second tier cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu and similar cities elsewhere in the country.

"These areas have to be identified and exploited," the Chairman and Managing Director of TFCI, M. Narayanan, told The Hindu .

After addressing a meeting on `Financing Tourism Infrastructure', organised by the Coimbatore Management Association, he said: "Take the case of Pollachi where films are shot at a number of locations. Leisure tourism or eco-tourism can be promoted here."

The famous silk saree made at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu was exported to China. So, a Chinese tourist would be interested in visiting the place where it was made and even see how it was made.

The houses in the Chettinad region in the State were already an attraction.

This pointed out that even smaller towns had potential for "rural tourism."

At present, the TFCI funded construction of hotels (from two star to five star), health spa, food courts and also renovations to these at tourism centres.

"These projects are spread across the country now, with even the North-East States joining the rest of the nation in promoting tourism in their so far unexploited areas."

Mr. Narayanan said at the meeting that out of more than 500 projects the TFCI assisted all over the country, 74 had been from Tamil Nadu at Rs.412 crores.

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