Plan to make Chennai gateway of south

By T. S. Shankar

CHENNAI, AUG. 29. Bitten by criticism for rolling out poor publicity caravans for promoting tourism as a result of which the State's prime position in the sector has slipped down over the last few years, the Government has chalked out an action plan to make Chennai the `Gateway of South', a leading tourism destination of India.

The Government having identified dissemination of updated information as one of the major grey areas of the sector, the department will go in for high-quality brochures on all tourist places, which will be produced on professional lines.

The brochures will provide information on the type and availability of accommodation with tariff details, accessibility to facilities like air, train, bus and tourist cabs, appropriate seasons and timings of temple festivals and any other information of interest to tourists. The layout of the brochures has been prepared and approved by the Chief Minister for free distribution at airports, on board the flights, at railway stations, all leading hotels, bus-stands, libraries and to travel agents.

As part of the campaign, 30-mm short films of one-minute, 3- minute and 10-minute visuals and commercials will be produced to be shown at cinema theatres, railway stations, tourist exhibitions, airports, on international flights and televisions. CD Roms of good quality will also be made for free distribution.

Tabling the demands of the department in the Assembly on Tuesday, the Tourism Minister, Ms. R. Saroja, said a massive publicity blitz would be undertaken by participating in all leading international tourism marts/road shows and exhibitions. Emphasis would be laid on ecosystem, village adventure, heritage and spiritual and religious tourism.

Opening of tourist offices in London, Berlin, Paris, Washington, New York, Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius and Durban in South Africa was considered necessary. It was decided to try the idea on an experimental basis by appointing TTDC agents.

Tamil Nadu would become a member in several world bodies such as the World Tourism Organisation, the Pacific Asian Travel Association, the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association and the American Society of Travel Agents.

To bring about clean environments on the Marina and Elliots beaches in Chennai, at Mammallapuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Kanyakumari and Rameswaram, action would be taken immediately and the work entrusted to private agencies after following formalities.

Introduction of boating services for the benefit of tourists between Muttukadu and Mammallapuram and at Rameswarm and Kanyakumari would be considered in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Crime prevention squad launched
Next     : Rs. 500-cr. new project proposed