Ramanathaswamy temple, a prominent tourist attraction in Rameshwaram.
Riding high on Tamil Nadu’s tourism surge, the state-owned Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has clocked its third consecutive year of profit, firmly recovering from earlier losses to post an estimated ₹34.07 crore profit in 2024–25.
This follows profits of ₹32.33 crore in 2023–24 and ₹29.99 crore in 2022–23, marking a strong comeback from losses of ₹23.25 crore and ₹11.39 crore in 2020–21 and 2021–22 respectively, according to the latest policy note of the Tourism Department.
With an expected turnover of ₹238 crore in FY25, marginally lower than the ₹243 crore recorded in FY24, TTDC’s performance continues to be buoyed by its wide-ranging operations — from hotels and hostels to boat houses, rest houses, and youth hostels. From just five hotels in 1971, TTDC now operates 51 hotels, of which 25 are owned, offering 852 rooms across Tamil Nadu, catering to both budget and mainstream tourists.
Its accommodation business alone earned ₹28 crore in revenue and ₹13 crore in profit, while its network of 30 restaurants brought in ₹37 crore in revenue and ₹7 crore in profit. Pilgrim rest houses contributed another ₹17 crore in revenue and ₹8 crore in profit.
TTDC’s 11 boat houses also proved to be major revenue drivers, generating ₹40 crore in 2024-25, supported by 42 lakh tourist visits. The Ooty Boat House led the pack with an impressive ₹19 crore, followed by Kodaikanal, Muttukadu, and Pichavaram, each bringing in ₹4 crore.
The scenic Ooty Lake, also known as the Ooty Boat House, is a popular tourist destination nestled amid tranquil greenery.
TTDC’s tour package business, offering options from half-day to 14-day tours, has also become a key revenue driver, generating ₹27 crore in FY25, with the Tirupati tour from Chennai leading the segment.
Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, has retained its position as a national tourism leader, securing second place in domestic tourist arrivals with 30.80 crore visitors in 2024, up from 28.71 crore in 2023, according to provisional data.
To further strengthen its position on India’s tourism map, the state government has announced over ₹200 crore in eco-tourism and infrastructure projects, including ₹100 crore to modernise religious tourism hubs such as Mamallapuram, Kanniyakumari, Tiruchendur, Velankanni, and Nagore. Heritage centres highlighting Buddhist and Jain legacies are also planned in Kancheepuram and Madurai.
Eco-tourism investments will see upgraded infrastructure at Kalvarayan Hills, Gomuki, Karumandurai Farm Lake and a couple of other places, with a total outlay of ₹10 crore — signalling a strong commitment to making Tamil Nadu not just a top destination, but a sustainably developed one too.
In September 2023, the Tamil Nadu government unveiled a new tourism policy aimed at transforming the state into Asia’s leading experiential travel destination. The policy targets ₹20,000 crore in investments over five years and aims to facilitate skill development for three lakh individuals. It also envisions tourism contributing at least 12% to the state’s GSDP annually during this period.
Published on April 21, 2025