Tamil Nadu Chief Minister released ‘Tourism Policy 2023’.
It aims to attract investments of ₹20,000 crore into this sector over the next five years.
The comprehensive policy envisions both enhancing and upgrading the existing tourism infrastructure, along with the establishment of new, greenfield projects.
This policy will be valid for a period of five years from the date of the policy notification, or till a new policy is announced.
This provides for a single-window portal for necessary clearances, concessions in electricity tariff and other incentives for eligible tourism projects.
It also envisions a Tourist Security Organisation.
The Department has also set targets for the next five years which includes contributing to at least 12% of State Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) annually.
Also, tourism and its supporting industries will employ 25 lakh people in Tamil Nadu.
The policy also highlighted that a Tourism Facilitation Cell will be created within the Department to assist Guidance Tamil Nadu to monitor and promote tourism investment.
The Department is planning to create one large-format amusement park, similar to global theme parks such as Disney and Universal Studios, with an area of at least 100 acres on the out-skirts of Chennai.
Plans are on cards to launch cruise facilities on various stretches on the Chennai – Rameswaram – Kanniyakumari and Chennai – Port Blair route.
The policy also mentions that existing towns and cities with good quality urban infrastructure will be developed as Gateway Hubs, from where the visitor to Tamil Nadu can initiate their journey.
Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore and Kanniyakumari will be developed as gateway hubs.
An allocation of 5% from the smart city funds will be dedicated to enhancing tourism infrastructure in primary Gateway Hubs.