Tamilnadu still remains testimony to the religious, artistic and cultural accomplishments of tamil civilization that dates back to several thousand years. The state has several breathtaking tourist locations and truly spell-binding destinations.

Tamilnadu with its rich natural landscape, culture and heritage, unique traditions and religious practices, world class art and craft, temple, architecture, hill, seashores, forests & greenery, exclusive festivals present an ideal destination for tourist attraction.

The state promotes the following tourism to attract diverse categories of domestic and foreign tourists.

a) Leisure Tourism: Suitable for tourists who prefer hill resorts, beach resorts, waterfalls, zoological parks, bird sanctuaries, botanical/horticultural gardens, etc.

b) Heritage Tourism: Suitable for Tourists who would like to visit historical monuments.

c) Adventure Tourism: Tourists with an appetite for adventure through trekking, air/water sports, etc.

d) Business Tourism: Top executives who arrive on business trips or to attend seminars, conferences, conventions, general body meetings etc., can combine tourism with their business trips.

e) Medical Tourism: Medical tourism is slated to be the next big thing in the Indian tourism market. Tamilnadu with its world-class health facilities, offering all kinds of medical and health related solutions at almost one-fifth of the cost in European countries and America attracts huge number of foreigners. Research reports indicate that medical tourism is valued to be worth $310 million now is expected to grow to $2 billion by 2012 as nearly as 100,000 foreign patients visit India every year.

f) Fairs/Festivals Tourism: Large inflow of tourists is usually seen during the major festive seasons like Deepavali, Christmas, Ramzan, Pongal, etc. The exhibitions, cultural fairs, art exhibitions, film festivals conducted by various ministries of the government also draw significant number of tourists.

g) Academic Tourism: Cultural exchange programs are organized to let students from educational institutions, universities of various countries to visit some of the key tourists spots.

h) Rural Tourism: Tamil nadu tourism development corporation is making keen efforts to promote rural tourism, where tourists will be taken through the lively environs of the village in its unadulterated form. It offers an opportunity for tourists to learn and understand tamil culture, its custom and traditions. Also it will serve as an opportunity for villagers to showcase their hand-made arts & crafts and make money.

i) Emerging Tourism Attractions: The country is keen to explore the new market segments such as Cruise tourism and helicopter tourism where presently India has negligible share in comparison to world cruise and helicopter tourism markets.