Chennai: Tamil Nadu's new tourism strategy is aimed to position the state as an international tourist destination in Asia and Pacific regions by transforming the state into the "tourism hub" of this part of the world, state Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said on October 20.

Inaugurating the 64th SKAL World Congress, stated to be the world's largest tourism meet, Jayalalithaa said that the seven point action plan under the new strategy included 'unlocking the hidden treasures' of the state and positioning Chennai and Coimbatore as destinations for international conventions and fairs.

The action plan also envisaged improving international accessibility and upgrading the transport network, filling up infrastructure gaps, aggressive and focussed marketing, facilitating charter flights and cruise tourism.

She said, "We now propose to offer experiences to the tourists by showcasing some of the equally beautiful but lesser known attractions like the rich heritage of Chettinadu, mangroves, pristine and quiet beaches."

PTI