TN organises Road Show to promote Tourism

Bangalore, Mar 18: In a bid to promote tourism, Tamil Nadu has launched a marketing campaign titled 'Enchanting Tamil Nadu- Experience Yourself' under which various tourist spots of the state would be showcased as a haven offering tourists a one stop experience of the country.

Briefing newsmen here Tamil Nadu Tourism Commissioner Dr M Rajaram said that series of road shows were organised in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur and Bhubaneswar with a view to disseminate first hand information to the prospective tourists through local media, travel trade to facilitate prepare their travel plan to Tamil Nadu.

Replying to a question, he said over 5.24 crore, including 17.53 lakhs foreign tourists visited the state during 2007. The sector has registered a growth of 29.2 per cent from a mere 7.7 per cent in 2005. In a move to attract investment towards the sector, the government had also announced incentives to tourism related facilities such as amusement parks, golf course, rope car, and boat house at various places classified as Lesser Known Tourism. Besides, a soft loan at 0.1 per cent per annum would be extended for five years to help entrepreneurs to pay sales tax, who in turn had to repay the soft loan to the government in five years. A 10 per cent subsidy on conversion cost (Not exceeding Rs one crore) was also being given to convert heritage buildings into heritage hotels, he explained.

He said a Rail-cum-Road tour from Bangalore was also being organised covering all Navagraha temples following growing demand of tourists. The first such tour was scheduled to start on May 26, he added.

UNI