TN eyeing to generate more revenue from cruise tourists

Chennai, Aug 24 (PTI) With an aim to generate morerevenue from cruise tourists, Tamil Nadu government hassuggested operators to modify their tour packages so thatvisitors spend more time on shore, the Assembly was informedtoday. "The tourism department has suggested the operators tomodify the tours, so as to make them (tourists) spend moretime on shore and visit more tourist places for a minimum ofthree to four days," Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajansaid and noted that ports at Tuticorin and here are attractingcruise vessels. This will help generate more revenue and give anopportunity to spend money on other travel-related areas andshopping. This will also help the economy of the state and thecountry, he said, adding, two cruise ships had arrived herethis year. Natarajan said Tamil Nadu had attracted about 33.81 croredomestic and foreign tourists last year and stood first in thecountry in 2014 and 2015. "Steps including targeted promotional strategies andextensive marketing campaigns, besides upgradation of basicamenities in tourist destinations would be taken to sustainthe top position in tourist arrivals," he said. Natarajan also announced several new initiatives,including preparation of a ‘Cultural Atlas’ with InformationTags for various important tourist sites, especially thosewith heritage and historical values. PTI SA VSNSDTRK