CM Stalin releases TN’s first ‘Tourism Policy’; world-class amusement park to come up in Chennai

It was noted that the policy will be valid for a period of five years from the date of the policy notification, or till a new policy is announced.

In what is believed to be the first time in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin Tuesday released a separate policy for the tourism department. As per the statement issued by Stalin, the ‘Tourism Policy 2023’ is a landmark initiative that aims to propel Tamil Nadu to new heights in the tourism space.

“With this policy, the state can harness its inherent strengths and leverage the power of tourism as a vital catalyst in realising our ambitious goal of achieving a USD 1 Trillion economy by 2030,” Stalin said.

The policy aims to attract investments to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore in the next five years and proposes strategic interventions, attractive incentives, and requisite regulatory reforms to facilitate investment and incubate private participation in the tourism sector. Further, it strives to create a sustainable tourism ecosystem in Tamil Nadu and lays emphasis on providing safe and high-quality experiences for tourists.

As per officials, the policy aims to create a framework to make tourism a major sector in Tamil Nadu, with a focus on increasing revenues for the local economy and growing tourism sustainably.

Further, it seeks to elevate Tamil Nadu’s tourism beyond its traditional allure of temples and ancient architecture and harness the unexplored potential of the state as a diverse tourist destination.

It was noted that the policy will be valid for a period of five years from the date of the policy notification, or till a new policy is announced.

The other goals that have been set by the department include contributing to at least 12 per cent of state GDSP annually, employing over 25 lakh people, and facilitating the skill development of three lakh workers in tourism and allied industries.

To promote ease of doing business, the department is set to constitute a ‘Tourism Facilitation Cell’.

The department will categorise tourism projects under three heads – A (Investment in eligible capital assets up to Rs 50 crore), B (Investment in eligible capital assets up to Rs 200 crore), and C (Investment in eligible capital assets of more than Rs 200 crore).

The tourism department said it intends to concentrate on 12 themes – adventure, recreation, caravan, rural and plantation, coastal, cultural, medical and wellness, eco, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions), heritage, religious, and film tourism.

“The department envisages creating one large-format amusement park, similar to global theme parks like Disney and Universal Studios, with an area of at least 100 acres on the outskirts of Chennai,” the policy statement says, adding that the amusement park will be developed through private sector participation.

Further, it notes that the tourism department aims to engage with golf courses located in hilly regions for the development of accommodation facilities, which can be promoted as part of recreation tourism.

The department is also planning to launch cruise facilities on various stretches along the Chennai – Rameswaram – Kanyakumari and Chennai – Port Blair routes.

Moreover, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Kanyakumari are set to be developed as ‘Gateway Hubs’. It has been said that 5 per cent of Smart City funds would be spent on developing tourism infrastructure in primary Gateway Hubs. The department would also host an annual competition among the Gateway Hubs and grant Rs 2 crore to the winning local body based on its performance in the tourism sector.