It has been featured in international lists this year as a must-see city, but is Chennai really friendly to tourists? Travel agents, hoteliers and visitors to the south say that while there is much that is beautiful and interesting about Chennai and Tamil Nadu, the government could do more in the way of setting up infrastructure, maintenance and even showcasing attractive spots.
“There is a lot of potential in Chennai and a lot of interest, especially from Europeans and Americans, but it is just not very inviting. The city and State haven’t projected themselves as attractive destinations internationally. Tourists say that apart from beaches and temples, there is nothing to do – and most beaches are dirty too,” said Charanya Ramesh, CEO, Shakthi Tours and Travels.
R. Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, said there is not enough publicity about attractions in the State. “Also, adequate infrastructure including good toilets needs to be developed at tourist spots. There are touts everywhere, including at religious places. Such things need to be regulated,” he said.
For many tourists, Chennai is simply a gateway to exploring the rest of south India. The garbage and the lack of friendly facilities, including clean water and commuting options, are common complaints. “We are extra careful with what we eat and drink here. In Scandinavian countries, you can drink water from the tap but in India, even bottled water is not of standard quality,” said one tourist.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation’s facilities and infrastructure too, leave a lot to be desired, say tourists and agents. Help desks at the airport and railway stations, signboards and guides (including audio) at tourist destinations, comprehensive information on the website, tourist police personnel, minimising the presence of touts and better-maintained hotels are just some areas that could be worked on and would make the State friendlier, they say. TTDC initiatives seem to begin and then run out of the steam – the hop-on, hop-off bus for instance — they say.
“The tourism policy must focus on what products the State has. Just one dance festival at Mamallapuram is not enough. Kerala for instance, does a phenomenal job of marketing itself. Tourists there get to see not just beaches and temples, but have elephant safaris, food tours, Ayurvedic massages and a whole lot more. The government must have constant interaction with the industry to find out what the needs are and see what can be done,” said M.K Ajit Kumar, CEO, Asia Pacific Tours.
M. Venkadasubbu, Association president, said “Recently, at the All India Hotel association convention, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan had an hour-long interaction with us. They are very open to suggestions. But here, we have been trying to meet people who matter and are waiting for their response,” he said. A retired tourism department official said attention to small details would go a long way.
"We need to make souvenirs specific to each location and include more activities and tours. Trails about the Chola, Pallava, Pandya and Chera kingdoms would be interesting. Fort, forest and sanctuary trails could also be included. We need to apply for more of the Central government’s destination development fund, which is Rs. 5 crore per destination, and also spend more on advertising,” he said.
