Tamil Nadu Seals Tourism Pact with France’s Val de Loire
Chennai: In an effort to expand its global cultural presence and attract more visitors, Tamil Nadu has entered into a memorandum of understanding with France’s Val de Loire region. The agreement was formalised at the Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin.
The MoU was signed by K Manivannan, secretary of the department of tourism, culture and religious endowments, along with Delphine Sabatier, head of cultural and heritage cooperation for Val de Loire. It will remain valid for five years.
The initiative builds on Tamil Nadu’s new tourism policy introduced in September 2023, which has already contributed to a rise in visitor numbers, from 28.71 million in 2023 to 30.80 million in 2024. Officials said the partnership is expected to strengthen cultural exchange while creating new opportunities for the state on the global tourism map.
Key areas of cooperation will include exchange programmes for artists, collaborative cultural ventures, training for tourism professionals, preservation of heritage, and joint exhibitions. Students will also gain opportunities to participate in short-term training in tourism, while museums and cultural institutions across both regions are set to deepen their ties.
Experts noted that Tamil Nadu has previously entered into similar agreements with other states. According to Sriharan Balan, managing director of Madura Travel Service, the collaboration could significantly benefit the state. “With French consulates already operating in Pondicherry and Chennai, this agreement is bound to boost tourism. Through the exchange programme, the state government can also adopt strategies from Paris, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations,” he said.