Under the able guidance of Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and with the personal participation of Thiru S. Rajeshkumar, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, successfully showcased the State at IFTM Top Resa, Paris, from September 15 to 17, 2026, with a focused engagement with France and International tourism market.
The Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Govt of Tamil Nadu, Thiru S. Rajeshkumar, along with Thiru S. Rajeshkumar, Suvasish Das, IFS (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India), Smt. Richa Gulati First Secretary, Embassy of India, Paris, Col Pushpam Kumar, Sr. General Manager India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Ravi Prakash Pareek, Deputy General Manager India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) New Delhi participated in the event.
The Tamil Nadu stand saw the participation of senior officials of the Tourism Department, representatives of the tourism industry, tour operators, hoteliers, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and other key stakeholders. The delegation’s participation strengthened Tamil Nadu’s engagement with the international travel trade and highlighted the State’s commitment to expanding global tourism partnerships.
At the event, Tamil Nadu presented its distinctive strengths in living heritage, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, temples, classical arts, spirituality, gastronomy, wildlife, beaches, hill stations, wellness, crafts and living traditions. Established attractions such as Mamallapuram, the Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameswaram, Kumbakonam, Chettinad, the Nilgiris and Kanniyakumari were showcased alongside emerging destinations including Pichavaram, Kolli Hills, Valparai, Yercaud, Yelagiri, Tharangambadi, Dhanushkodi, Gingee and Kancheepuram.
Tamil Nadu’s culinary diversity was highlighted through Chennai and Madurai food trails, Chettinad and Kongu Nadu cuisine, temple food traditions and coastal seafood. The State also presented premium experiences such as heritage stays, private cultural encounters, curated dining, wellness retreats and personalised itineraries, together with boutique and heritage accommodation.
The showcase also emphasised responsible and community-based tourism, including rural and agri-tourism, local food, handloom and handicrafts, ecotourism and wildlife experiences. Festival and cultural experiences, family and senior-friendly itineraries, and year-round travel opportunities were presented as key propositions for the French and European markets.
Tamil Nadu Tourism held engagement with the French travel trade and international tourism stakeholders through B2B interactions, destination promotion, information sharing, itinerary development and discussions on future collaboration. The State also promoted the ‘Discover Tamil Nadu – International Edition 2026–27’ FAM initiative for travel professionals and international storytellers through www.discovertamilnadu.online.
The participation provided an important platform to promote new tourism products planned for 2027–28, including heritage and architecture circuits, culinary tourism, ecotourism and wildlife, adventure and water-based experiences, wellness and slow travel, rural and agri-tourism, Astro Tourism, boutique accommodation, and food and handicraft experiences.
The Government of Tamil Nadu expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government of France, the organisers of IFTM Top Resa, and all partners, tourism stakeholders, industry representatives, officials and others who extended their support and cooperation in making Tamil Nadu’s participation a meaningful and successful engagement. Their valuable contribution will further strengthen tourism cooperation and people-to-people ties between Tamil Nadu, France and the wider international tourism community.
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