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Union Territory witnesses record growth in tourist inflow

Rajesh Nair

New projects proposed to boost tourism infrastructure

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

MORE VISITORS: Foreign tourists selecting cards at a shop in the town.

PUDUCHERRY: The Union Territory has registered a record increase in the arrival of both domestic and foreign tourists last year.

The number of domestic tourist arrivals during the 12 months ending December 31, 2006 was 6, 52, 245, showing an increase of 13.63 per cent over the previous year, according to statistics available with the Tourism Department. The number for 2005 was 5,74,011.

It was in the arrival of foreign tourists that the territory witnessed a quantum jump. The number of foreign tourist arrivals was 46,273, showing an increase of 28.50 per cent. The number for 2005 was 36,009.

A review of the statistics available with the department from 2001 shows that, except a slump in the arrival of foreign tourists during 2002, there was a marginal growth in the domestic and foreign tourists arrival.

The statistics had been gathered as per the bed-night stay in 109 hotels and guesthouses.

According to the officials on an average around 25,000 people visited the territory a day for shopping and sightseeing.

The French tourists, about 30 per cent, constitute the biggest chunk of foreign tourists followed by people from the U.K., the U.S. and Germany. Buoyed by the growth in the arrival of tourists, the department has now more aggressive plans to push some of its infrastructure development plans under the India Infrastructure Initiative, a product mooted jointly by the Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation and the Feedback Ventures to promote public-private partnership for building infrastructure in States.

"We have invited the joint venture group for a discussion. The team was likely to come here for an interaction soon," P. Gautham Reddy, Director, Tourism Department, told The Hindu .

Golf course

He said they would be briefed about the proposed projects like the golf course planned at Manapet, the eco-tourism project at Yanam and development of amusement cum theme park in Puducherry. The Department had also tied up with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for the beautification of the beach here.

" The entire stretch would be filled with new sand and trees would be planted on the beach front. More sitting benches would also be provided. INTACH is in the final stages of preparing a master plan for the development of the beach," he noted.

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