'22% increase in arrival of tourists to Tamil Nadu'

There has been a 22% increase in  arrival of tourists to Tamil Nadu this year and the state has won four national awards for promoting tourism development, according to state tourism minister Suresh Rajan.

The minister said the state is the third most popular tourism spot and was striving to get to the top spot.

He was speaking to reporters at Mamallapuram yesterday after inaugurating various adventure sports like water sports and net cricket.

He said adventure sports was expected to pick up in a big way in the state with these added attractions.

Later, Director of Tourism Mohandas told reporters that there was also a plan for a "Tour on the Wheels of Past."

This project would entail providing tourists interested history opportunities to visit historically important sites, giving them authentic account of the Cholas, Chera and Pandiya dynasties.