Chennai: Tamil Nadu has become the number one State in attracting foreign tourists with 6,45,296 foreigners visiting the various tourist spots in the State between January and June, the period in which 18,49,10,708 Indian tourists also came calling, State Tourism Minister K Ramachandran said on Tuesday.The Minister presided over a meeting to review the working of the department when it was revealed that the inflow of tourists, both foreign and Indian, had been on a steady rise since the Coronavirus pandemic and was not booming.The figures that stood at 57,622 foreigners and 11,53,36,719 Indians in 2021 rose to 4,07,139 and 21,85,84,846 respectively in 2022 and then to 11,74,899 and 28,60,11,515 respectively in 2023, and official press release said.The meeting also reviewed the various developmental work taken up at various important tourist spots in the State, the release said, adding that Chief Minister M K Stalin had released a policy note to give the tourism industry status.Some of the major renovations and improvements being done at tourist spots include the setting up of a laser lighting facility at the Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari at a cost of Rs 12.92 crore, refurbishing the museum at Poompuhar set up by M Karunanidhi at a cost of Rs 23.60 crore and constructing additional facilities at Hogenakkal by spending Rs 17.59 crore and in Pichavaram for Rs 14.07 crore.
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