Chennai: Tamil Nadu, which boasts of excellent paragliding facility at Yelagiri, potential hot air ballooning in Pollachi and sprawling boating yards, will soon transform into a hub for kayaking, water skiing, parasailing and hot
air ballooning.
The State owned Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will evolve a roadmap for adventure sports activities to serve as added attraction for the domestic tourists and also to lure foreigners.
Among the prominent spots that are under active consideration are: Sulur Lake, Coimbatore, for kayaking and water skiing, Thirumurthi Dam (about 50 km from Pollachi) – parasailing & trekking, Yelagiri Hills – parasailing, hand gliding and paragliding besides Mudaliarkuppam, near here, for parasailing and hot air ballooning. “The sporting activities would not be confined to these centres. Steps would be taken to identify newer destinations so that the entire State is covered,” a senior TTDC official said.
At present, the corporation is in the process of preparing a feasibility report to facilitate adventure sports activities. The latest initiative of introducing parasailing at the Marina beach that evoked tremendous response from the public and also the boating yards owned by the TTDC have enthused the corporation to promote the initiative. Efforts would be taken to consult experts or adventure sports promoters in the process, the official added.
The corporation is scouting for a consultancy firm that would help prepare the feasibility report for setting up of adventure and water sports centres in Tamil Nadu to attain the goals set in the State’s Vision 2023 document, particularly in attracting 15 million foreign tourists by 2023. Establishment of adventure and water sports is one of the major targets to be achieved by the Tourism Department to facilitate the growth in tourism.
“The firm will help us in identifying the potential and demand for the sporting activities in the identified locations considering the weather, topography, other factors. Appropriate area development plans including waste management plan, innovative concepts on fetching revenue besides involving various stakeholders like locals, tourists, travel agents and tour operators, are also envisaged,” the official said.
