The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) celebrated its 75th anniversary and the celebrations brought a little more than just the celebratory spirit. Hosted in Tiruchi, the anniversary celebration gave an opportunity to the Tourism Minister of the state S. Rajesh Kumar to announce that Tamil Nadu is looking to expand its tourism sector by developing new forms of travel experiences, strengthening religious tourism and exploring river-based tourism.
Addressing the gathering on August 16, 2026, Mr. Kumar said Tamil Nadu had enormous scope for further growth in tourism and described Tiruchi as one of the State’s key tourism destinations. The city, he said, receives around 2.5 crore visitors, underlining its importance on Tamil Nadu’s tourism map.
Mr. Kumar also spoke about the wider economic impact of tourism, pointing out that the sector does not benefit only large hotels and established tourism companies but creates opportunities for small businesses, local shops, transport providers, travel agents and several other sections of society.
New forms of tourism being explored
Mr. Kumar said, “Tamil Nadu offered opportunities for various forms of tourism, including medical tourism, agricultural tourism and temple tourism; we are now planning River Tourism connecting the Thamirabarani and the Cauvery, besides developing devotional tourism covering important centres such as Velankanni and Nagore,” Mr. Rajesh said.
The government was also considering measures to make travel easier for senior citizens with free travel facilities as part of its efforts to make tourism more inclusive and accessible.
Travel agents seen as an important link
Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) S. Ramesh highlighted the important role played by travel agents in the tourism ecosystem.
He said travel agents helped connect people, cities, States and countries while also giving travellers an opportunity to discover different cultures, traditions and ways of life.
Mr. Ramesh said Tamil Nadu offered an exceptionally diverse tourism experience, stretching from Chennai to Kanniyakumari. The journey across the State includes beaches, temples, historical monuments, heritage locations and scenic destinations.
According to him, every district in Tamil Nadu has a unique attraction that can offer a new experience to the tourists. He cited Tiruchi as a strong example as it houses several attractions like Srirangam and Samayapuram temples, Kallanai and Mukkombu dams and Rockfort. He additionally stressed on the role of food and local culinary traditions in promoting tourism.
In this regard, Srirangam offers an example of how culinary heritage can complement religious tourism.
The town is widely known for its major temple, but its traditional cuisine is also an important part of its identity. Mr. Ramesh specifically mentioned Akkaravadisal, a traditional preparation associated with the region.
Major temples continue to draw visitors from across India
Tamil Nadu’s major temples remain among the State’s strongest tourism assets. Temples at Tiruchendur, Rameswaram and Tiruvannamalai attract devotees and tourists from northern India as well as other parts of the country and thus, Mr. Ramesh revealed that the government now wants to build on this existing popularity and bring more visitors from within India and from overseas.
“We are working to take this tourism potential to the next level by attracting more visitors from other parts of India and abroad. The HR&CE and Tourism departments are working together to strengthen and promote these opportunities,” said Mr. Ramesh.
The cooperation between the HR&CE and Tourism departments is expected to play a key role in developing religious destinations while also improving their appeal as broader tourism experiences.
The Ministers further released the double diamond jubilee souvenir of the Travel Agents Association of India during the celebrations.
S.P. Rajendran, Chairman, TAAI – STC, R. Sunil Kumar, National President, TAAI, and D. Venkatesan, Regional Director, Indian Tourism – South, also addressed the gathering in the presence of G. Gopalakrishnan, Director, Tiruchi International Airport.
