Tamil Nadu will announce an eco-tourism policy in the next 15 days. The policy will help create awareness among the youth about the importance of the State’s ecology, Tourism Secretary V. Irai Anbu said on Monday.
As a prelude, Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi inaugurated the eco-tourism wing of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) on Wallajah Road. Senior Forest officer P.A. Mani has been designated General Manager of the wing.
Mr. Sripathi told reporters: “Our main task is to select eco-tourism spots in the State, conduct rock-climbing sessions, forest visits and trekking for youth to create awareness and take steps to prevent the use of plastic products around waterbodies, parks and zoos.”
Mr. Irai Anbu said the new team would work in conjunction with existing staff to maintain serenity, develop and popularise environmental tourism, take tourists to these spots and make them understand and appreciate the work done by environmentalists and the Forest Department in conservation.
The eco-tourism wing would set high standards of ecology to be maintained by TTDC hotels, chalk out programmes for youth so that adventure tourism could be promoted along with eco-tourism, and recognise outstanding organisations and give awards every year.
According to Mr. Mani, the first awareness camp would be conducted in the Shervaroyan hills in the next few days. The TTDC would also engage the services of tribal people in this. Mr. Irai Anbu said the process of identifying eco-tourism spots that could be covered by corporate, youth and schools was on.
To mark the occasion, a brochure on ‘Waterfalls of Tamil Nadu’ was released. It highlights 47 waterfalls located in 12 districts.
TTDC eco-tourism wing opened
Brochure on waterfalls in State released
