Though domestic tourists constitute the bulk of people travelling across the state throughout the year, NRIs and foreigners seem to prefer the eight-day Tamil Nadu tour and 14-day Sunny South tours during this time of the year because of the pleasant and nippy climate.

Revenue-wise, the state seems to tread the growth path.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing peak tourist season which commenced in October (till January-end), and the officials anticipate an increase in arrivals in the coming days.

“Tourism activity is like a wave. It swells and keeps coming. Although it is season all through the year, we receive a good number of foreigners and NRIs during this current season,” an official said.

“There is good patronage for the eight-day Tamil Nadu tour. However, the Tamil Nadu tourism development corporation (TTDC) had to reschedule the eight-day East West Coast tour, skipping the four-night halt in Kerala, on account of the unforeseen developments over the Mullaiperiyar dam conflict, and the recent Thane cyclone,” a tourism official said.

Despite the attempt to woo the French-speaking people to the state being a non-starter, the TTDC has managed to receive numerous bookings online.

The revenue through the TTDC’s online bookings alone (for tours and accommodation) has touched Rs 1.97 crore up to December 2011, against Rs 2.15 crore during the previous fiscal.

“We hope to net about Rs 50 lakh more revenue before the end of the 2011-12 financial year,” an official explained, and added that the revenue through conventional bookings, too, had registered considerable increase.

Despite the state possessing numerous attractions, adventure tourism, which often ignites young minds and lures the net-worth visitors, is yet to take off in a big way.

Though there have been some initiatives to introduce adventure sports; Tamil Nadu is yet to go a long way in branding destinations to promote adventure tourism in a big way. Only Yelagiri has emerged as a destination for paragliding in TN.