CHENNAI: The southern districts of Tamil Nadu have experienced a steady influx of tourists, both domestic and international, between January and July this year, with the majority being temple tourists.
However, tourism industry members have highlighted the need to improve facilities and introduce additional activities around these religious sites as interest in temple tourism is now improving.
According to data from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department, over 18 crore tourists visited the state during this period.
Nearly two crore tourists visited Trichy, about 1.50 crore visited Madurai, over one crore visited Ramanathapuram, 76 lakh visited Chengalpattu district (Mamallapuram), and 86 lakh tourists visited Tiruvannamalai and Chennai.
Officials from the Tourism Department noted that the majority of these tourists travelled through private operators. Most domestic visitors came from northern India, primarily for the Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari circuit.
International tourists often include this circuit before continuing to Kerala or vice versa. Chennai largely serves as a transit hub for those visiting Tirupathi or Mamallapuram, according to Sriharan Balan, Chairman of Tourism at the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).
Despite improvements in roads, hotels, and highway rest stops, tourism industry representatives and urban planners emphasise the urgent need to enhance cleanliness and facilities within the temples.
This includes implementing proper visitor flow systems, maintaining clean restrooms, and creating shaded walkways to protect tourists from the heat.
They also suggest developing additional attractions, such as culinary tours, to encourage visitors to spend more time in the area.
Balan stressed the importance of having licensed guides in temples, pointing out the issue of unlicensed guides who often overcharge tourists.
He recommended regulating this by providing uniforms to licensed guides and ensuring proper oversight, especially in temples managed by various authorities such as the HR&CE, ASI, and mutts.
Industry insiders said that the introduction of trains from the North connecting pilgrim destinations across the state has also improved connectivity. P K Sekar Babu, HR&CE minister, said that the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference also attracted a lot of international tourists.
"Besides, when the HR&CE officials are informed about the arrival of tourists, we arrange special darshan, prasadam and ensure that they have a hassle-free darshan," he explained.
However, tourism industry members have highlighted the need to improve facilities and introduce additional activities around these religious sites as interest in temple tourism is now improving.
According to data from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department, over 18 crore tourists visited the state during this period.
Nearly two crore tourists visited Trichy, about 1.50 crore visited Madurai, over one crore visited Ramanathapuram, 76 lakh visited Chengalpattu district (Mamallapuram), and 86 lakh tourists visited Tiruvannamalai and Chennai.
Officials from the Tourism Department noted that the majority of these tourists travelled through private operators. Most domestic visitors came from northern India, primarily for the Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari circuit.
International tourists often include this circuit before continuing to Kerala or vice versa. Chennai largely serves as a transit hub for those visiting Tirupathi or Mamallapuram, according to Sriharan Balan, Chairman of Tourism at the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).
Despite improvements in roads, hotels, and highway rest stops, tourism industry representatives and urban planners emphasise the urgent need to enhance cleanliness and facilities within the temples.
This includes implementing proper visitor flow systems, maintaining clean restrooms, and creating shaded walkways to protect tourists from the heat.
They also suggest developing additional attractions, such as culinary tours, to encourage visitors to spend more time in the area.
Balan stressed the importance of having licensed guides in temples, pointing out the issue of unlicensed guides who often overcharge tourists.
He recommended regulating this by providing uniforms to licensed guides and ensuring proper oversight, especially in temples managed by various authorities such as the HR&CE, ASI, and mutts.
Industry insiders said that the introduction of trains from the North connecting pilgrim destinations across the state has also improved connectivity. P K Sekar Babu, HR&CE minister, said that the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference also attracted a lot of international tourists.
"Besides, when the HR&CE officials are informed about the arrival of tourists, we arrange special darshan, prasadam and ensure that they have a hassle-free darshan," he explained.
