Tamil Nadu weighs paid tourism internships as state upgrades digital services
Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar says the government is considering stipendiary internships for students in the Tourism Department. The state also announced new tourism investments, including upgrades at Thirumoorthy Dam, safety improvements and digital tools intended to simplify visitor services.
The Tamil Nadu government is considering offering students stipendiary internships in the Tourism Department, Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar said on Sunday. He said the proposal was intended to involve students more closely in the department’s initiatives.
The minister was speaking at World Tourism Day celebrations in Coimbatore, where he launched an upgraded website for the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation. He said the government was examining ways to improve facilities and visitor services across the state. The government plans to spend ₹19 crore on improvements at Thirumoorthy Dam and ₹2 crore on safety features at tourist destinations, according to the report.
Kumar said Tamil Nadu had the potential to become the country’s leading tourist destination and was currently seventh in visitor numbers. Director of Tourism Raja Gopal Sunkara said the department was using digital tools to improve the Tamil Nadu tourism brand and the experience of visitors. He cited Mamallapuram, where tourists queue to buy tickets from seven authorities, as an example of a process that could be simplified digitally.
The department has upgraded the TTDC website and launched an artificial-intelligence video contest and an innovation challenge for startups. These initiatives are intended to encourage new ideas and expand the use of technology in tourism services. Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G.
Giriyappanavar said the district ranked second in Tamil Nadu for tourist numbers. He identified education, healthcare, wildlife and ancient sites as areas offering scope for further tourism growth.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.