Tamil Nadu unveils 15 tourism projects to enhance safety, sustainability, and connectivity
Tamil Nadu's tourism minister has laid out a comprehensive plan to transform the state's visitor experience, with a focus on safety, sustainability, and connectivity. Presenting the demands for grants for his department in the assembly on Wednesday, Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar announced 15 projects aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure, improving tourist safety, and promoting new tourism segments.
At the heart of the plan is a commitment to make Tamil Nadu a top-tier destination. "Our primary focus is to position Tamil Nadu as a top-tier, eco-friendly, and secure destination for global and domestic travelers," Kumar said, as reported by The Economic Times and ThePrint. The minister also emphasized the ultimate goal: "The ultimate objective is to make every tourist visiting Tamil Nadu feel like a guest and leave as an ambassador for the state," according to The Times of India, which also quoted him saying, "The govt will raise every tourism experience to global standards."
Safety measures and tourist security
A significant portion of the proposals focuses on safety, particularly for women travellers. The government plans to install AI-powered surveillance cameras across major high-footfall tourist sites, with Rs 2 crore earmarked for AI-enabled CCTV cameras at important destinations, as reported by The Times of India. Dedicated tourist security organisations will be established to bolster safety infrastructure. Reports differ on the specific locations: The Economic Times and ThePrint list Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Poompuhar, and Hogenakkal, while The Times of India names Ooty, Mamallapuram, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, and Kodaikanal. Both sets of locations appear in the coverage, though the exact list remains inconsistent across the three outlets.
In addition to infrastructure, the plan includes Rs 1 crore for training programmes for tourism guides, hotel workers, tourism entrepreneurs, travel agents, and lifeguards, a detail carried by The Times of India.
Connectivity and eco-friendly initiatives
The government is also looking to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in hill stations, with feasibility studies underway for ropeway systems. A specific proposal involves a rope car route connecting Kumbakarai Falls, Vellagavi, Vattakanal, and the Kodaikanal bus stand, as mentioned by The Economic Times and ThePrint. The Times of India reports a separate rope car project connecting tourist destinations in Dindigul district and Kodaikanal with the foothills through Vellagavi, to be taken forward after technical approval.
In a move to protect natural water resources, all motorboats operated by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will be converted into electric boats, as confirmed by both The Economic Times and ThePrint. The Times of India adds that this conversion will cost Rs 17.82 crore.
Infrastructure development and funding
The Times of India provides detailed figures for various infrastructure projects, which are not mentioned in the other two reports. These include a feasibility study for tourism infrastructure on R K Nagar beach, technical feasibility studies worth Rs 2 crore for cruise and ferry tourism routes (including Chennai-Kovalam, Poompuhar-Tharangambadi-Nagapattinam, and Rameswaram-Tuticorin-Kanyakumari), Rs 48 crore for tourism development in Kanyakumari, Tirupur, Krishnagiri, and Erode districts, Rs 30 crore for new tourism infrastructure (pedestrian pathways, roads, sightseeing facilities, visitor amenities, and food parks), and Rs 18 crore for Kanyakumari district development at locations including the coastal area, Thengapapattanam dam, Colachel, and Chitharal. A Rs 60 lakh rural tourism project is also proposed to promote rural development, handicrafts, cultural heritage, agri-based products, village tourism, and special food varieties.
The minister also announced the establishment of a Chennai MICE Promotion Bureau to promote Chennai as India's leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, a detail exclusive to The Times of India.
Tourist numbers and growth
Kumar cited tourist arrival figures to underscore the state's popularity. The Times of India reports that Tamil Nadu recorded 30.80 crore domestic tourist arrivals in 2024, ranking second in the country, and that arrivals rose to 36.47 crore in 2025. In contrast, The Economic Times and ThePrint report that total tourist numbers (domestic and international combined) increased from 21.88 crore in 2022 to 36.46 crore in 2025. The discrepancy between the figures suggests different metrics or counting periods, but both indicate significant growth in tourism.
Outlook
The initiatives represent a broad push to modernise Tamil Nadu's tourism sector, balancing safety, sustainability, and infrastructure development. With an emphasis on making tourists feel welcome and leaving as ambassadors, the state aims to raise its tourism offerings to global standards.