The Tamil Nadu Government is set to formulate tourism schemes totalling over Rs 1,611 crore with private sector participation, according to the Policy Note on tourism tabled in the Assembly today as per a report in The Hindu.

Moving the demand for grants to tourism, the Minister, Ms S. Gokula Indira, said the projects will be in line with the tourism master plan for the State formulated by Hudco, Chennai. The master plan commissioned by the Government is aimed at sustainable tourism to address increasing tourist arrivals and the impact that it creates on existing physical infrastructure in various locations and the carrying capacity of eco-sensitive destinations such as hills, forests and coastal zones.

The Tamil Nadu Government is also planning Rs 450-crore infrastructure development and investment programme with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Facilities in tourist spots on the East Coast Corridor and the Southern Tourist Circuit will be upgraded. ADB funding for the project is about Rs 315 crore with Tamil Nadu bringing in Rs 135 crore. The project would be launched by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in November, the Minister said, concluding the debate on the demands for grants to the Tourism Department.

The east coast circuit extended from Chennai to Point Calimere, laterally extending up to Thanjavur for the inclusion of “Navagraha temples,” Thanjavur Palace and other sites. As part of the southern circuit, the quadrangle of Madurai-Rameswaram-Tirunelveli-Madurai would be covered.

The Minister also announced plans for improvement of facilities for tourists in different places, including Courtallam, Tranquebar, Mannargudi, Muthupet, Manalmelkudi, Auvudaiyar koil and Chittannavasal. Steps would be made for the Chettinad Heritage Circuit. As part of them, a reception centre would be set up at Karaikudi. An auditorium, estimated to cost Rs. 5 crore, would be constructed at Srirangam, the Minister added.

Arrival of domestic and international tourists into Tamil Nadu is on the increase with 10.30 lakh domestic tourists in 2010 compared with 7.80 lakh in the previous year. Foreign tourist arrivals were 28 lakhs in 2010 up from 23 lakh in the previous year.