CHENNAI: One of the top tourist destinations in the country,
Tamil Nadu constantly features in the list of states with most footfalls. While usual attractions like ancient temples and summer getaways like Ooty and
Kodaikkanal
have always attracted tourists, the state has several hidden gems yet to be mapped.
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) is now trying to showcase lesser known tourist destinations of the state, and is using influence marketing tools to achieve greater footfalls.
TTDC
has tied up with social media influencers and travel aggregator websites to promote unique destinations of the state, with help from influencers who explain the ways to get to the destination and other formalities.
Six months ago, on World Tourism Day 2021 (September 27), TTDC had launched ‘Discover Tamil Nadu’ campaign. Ten social media influencers from different parts of the country were taken on a trip. One of the influencers, Dinesh, who runs an Instagram page Aerial.Holic said, “We were accompanied by tourist guides, who explained about the tourism highlights of each location. Our job was to create content and promote them on our pages”.
Apart from local influencers, a popular Germancouple (Throben and Michaele from Hippie Trials) were also roped in to promote TN tourism, officials said.
Valparai and Koli Hills, among other, are being billed as next big thing
TTDC officials said that they have identified niche tourism segments like adventure tourism, eco-tourism and rural tourism, among others, to attract young travellers to lesser-known tourist sites like
Kolli Hills
, Yelagiri,
Megamalai
, Valparai and Jawadhu Hills.
“For instance, Kolli Hills with 70 hairpin bends will be promoted as a biker’s destination. At Valparai, which is well suited for experiential tourism, travellers will be encouraged to camp at plantation sites to experience how tea, coffee etc are grown. At Jawadhu Hills, tourists will get an opportunity to interact with tribals to understand the local culture and tradition,” said Sandeep Nanduri, Managing Director of TTDC.
Though Yelagiri already has adventure tourism, works will begin soon to add more options like rock climbing, zipline, archery and shooting etc. In places where water bodies are nearby, boating and kayaking will be introduced. TTDC has recently received a fund of three crore rupees from the state government towards this, said Nanduri.
With states easing travel restrictions and the tourism industry slowly opening up, such measures from the tourism department are sure to attract travellers.