Tamil Nadu is all set to become a major tourist destination in about a decade, said tourism minister S.P. Shanmuganathan.
Inaugurating the month-long annual Indian Dance Festival at Mamallapuram on Sunday, the minister said the tourism policy, conceived by the AIADMK government in 1991-92, and steps initiated during subsequent AIADMK regimes had resulted in a steady increase in the number of tourists to Tamil Nadu.
The State, which leads in promoting health tourism, has initiated various promotional activities, and achieved the first rank in domestic tourist arrivals in 2013. The same year, it ranked second in foreign tourist arrivals, he added.
Animal husbandry minister T.K.M. Chinnaiah and tourism secretary R. Kannan also took part in the inaugural function, which was followed by Bharatanatyam, folk dance and music programmes on the lawns of the Shore Temple.
