PUDUCHERRY: Four tourist information centers will be opened along the border areas of Puducherry region, Mullodai, Madagadipet, Gorimedu and Kalapet, Tourism Minister P Rajavelu said on Thursday.
Addressing the reporters on the World Tourism Day celebrations, which would be held on the September 27 on the Beach Road, the Minister said the centres were being set up to help the tourists visiting Puducherry and they would be provided information on the places of importance, boarding and lodging etc and, if needed, guides too would be provided to them.
He said the Tourism Department would consider the suggestion on the tourists’ vehicles being given identification stickers.
Rajavelu further said complaints of harassment of tourist vehicle drivers by police, who attempt to extract money from them, would also be looked into and suitable action taken.
The Minister added that there was a nine per cent increase in the number of tourists inflow compared to last year. The total number of tourists, who visited the Union Territory this year, was estimated at nearly 14.7 lakh (Indians 10.7 lakh and foreigner four lakh).
Also, the Minister said, the Puducherry Carnival would mark the World Tourism Day, which would be celebrated on September 27 and 28.
The carnival would be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Saturday evening. The carnival will have tableaus, dummy horse dance, mayilattam, puliyattam, silambam, neyyandi melam, Punjabi doll dance, kathakali and masquerade among others.