Experts cite the lack of professionally trained guides

September is the month when foreign tourists begin to arrive in Tamil Nadu, with a significant increase seen almost everyday. But this year, hoteliers and tour operators are disappointed as they say there has been a decline of almost 30 per cent in the arrivals last month compared to last year. Experts cite the lack of professionally trained guides and increasing rates of lodging in good hotels as some of the reasons for this downtrend.

“There are very few repeat tourists to the city itself. For many years now, the city has just been a transit point for tourists going to Kancheepuram, Mamallapuram and Puducherry,” says P. Asoka, president, Tourist Guides Federation of India.

There are around 147 guides certified by the government of India, who are approved only after they undergo an intensive 16-week course. But many tourists are not aware of this and end up engaging unapproved guides. “Crash courses including those offered by the State government are just about a week long, and do not even require the candidate to be a graduate. Tourists should very importantly ask for approved guides only, he adds. And many tour operators cut costs by employing tourist guides who may not have been approved.

“Now that most foreign tourists come with all information downloaded from the internet, it is very difficult to please them. Approved guides are only in the city, and they have to be taken to other places which get expensive for tour operators, says K. Rajendran, a tour designer, who arranges trips for foreign tourists.

Focus on domestic tourists

Moreover, many tour operators are trying to concentrate completely on domestic tourists, which they say is increasing substantially. And this is also the season for short vacations in India, the numbers of which have increased like never before, says A.Diraviam of Parveen Travels.

According to the Tourism Department data, Tamil Nadu attracted the maximum number of foreign tourists in 2010, along with Delhi. Domestic and international tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu witnessed a growth of nearly 23 per cent in March 2011, with the number of visitors crossing the 90 lakh mark compared to 75 lakh in 2010. According to the latest figures compiled by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), in March 2011, the number of arrivals of both domestic and foreign tourists was 92,98,959 compared to previous year's figure of 75,00,579.

“October no better”

But the month of October seems no better, says Veena Pratihar of GoHolidays. Chennai attracts the maximum number of tourists from France and Germany, but there are very few bookings with us.

Even the arrival of Italian and Spanish tourists has come down this year. “The group booking at this time used to be for 15-20 people, now it is about 8-10. It is still better than 2008, when we had none,” she says.

While lodging in three and five star hotels in Chennai has increased substantially, even cost of food and entertainment for foreign tourists is likely to have increased by at least 15 per cent this year.

“However, the bookings for January look promising. Foreign tourists are possibly waiting to see how the economic situation in Europe turns out to plan their holiday,” says Mr. Asoka.

The minimum cost of stay in five star hotels for a foreign tourist is about $ 450, while it is available for 1/3rd the rate in resorts on the outskirts, he adds.