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Villages to be developed as centres of excellence

Special Correspondent

As part of the rural tourism development

Puducherry: Tourism Secretary A. Anbarasu has said that two villages will be developed as centres of excellence under "promotion of rural tourism' here. Addressing students of Department of Tourism studies at Pondicherry University on the concluding day of the two-day industry-institute interface here on Sunday, Mr. Anabarasu said that tourism was emerging as number one industry. Puducherry satisfied the four main parameters of "physical invigoration, mental alertness, cultural rejuvenation and an environment for spiritual elevation", which were congenial to develop tourism on a higher scale.

The Centre and the Government here had initiated several programmes to set up facilities such as expansion of the airport in Puducherry, and an airstrip in Karaikal. The Government was aware of the advantages of tourism in either creating employment or in enhancing the gross domestic product.

He said that there was a sustained increase in demand for accommodation facilities. The administration had drawn up plans to operate helicopter services between Puducherry and Karaikal and other places.

There were also plans to encourage heritage tourism zone in Arikamedu, water sports and beach tourism in Puducherry. The Union Territory had registered 16 per cent growth in tourists' in-flow, which was almost double the national average. He appealed to students to acquire `multi skills" for employment. Registrar of the university S. Loganathan said that the young professionals should `think out of the box'. Head of the Department of Tourism Studies G. Anjaneyaswamy said that the event was very useful for the students and representatives from 20 industries.

Dean of School of Social Sciences T. Subramanyam Naidu, professor of Department of Management Studies R. Prabakara Raya and lecturer of Department of Tourism Studies Sampad Kumar Swain also spoke.

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