Puducherry is setting its sights on becoming one of India’s most vibrant cultural tourism hubs, with a clear goal of increasing annual visitor numbers from the current 1.9 million to 3 million by 2030.
P Krishna Kumar | Bengaluru
K Lakshminarayanan, Minister for Public Works, Tourism and Culture, Puducherry, shared the roadmap during the 55th annual convention of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in Bengaluru.
Highlighting Puducherry’s unique appeal, the Minister said the UT offers “a different flavour every day” to visitors, thanks to its diverse food culture, heritage architecture, beaches, spiritual centres, and hospitality.
“In the French quarter alone, you can find over 200 restaurants offering cuisines from around the world. A guest can stay for a year and still discover new food experiences daily,” he noted.
According to him, weekend and long-weekend travel has become a major driver of tourism growth in Puducherry. Hotels are witnessing near 100% occupancy on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with long weekends often doubling bookings. “This has created significant opportunities for the hospitality sector, not just for hotels but also for restaurants, local businesses, and cultural events,” he said.
Lakshminarayanan stressed that the strategy is not only to bring more visitors but also to extend their stay. Average visitor stays, which used to be just 1.5 days a decade ago, have now grown to nearly three days. “Our focus is on enhancing overnight stays by diversifying experiences—whether it is heritage walks, spiritual tourism at Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram, destination weddings, or beach and MICE tourism,” he explained.
The Minister also underlined the broader role of cultural tourism in India’s growth story. “Every 100 kilometres in India, you encounter a different culture. That’s what gives our country a unique edge in attracting global tourists. Puducherry is a microcosm of that diversity,” he said.
He credited the hospitality industry as a key partner in boosting both employment and the economy, aligning with India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
He assured support to the industry’s demand for delinking of F&B from the GST calculation on hotel tariff.
With its blend of French heritage charm, diverse food culture, spiritual appeal, and thriving weekend tourism, the tourism minister said that the state will continue to participate proactively in events globally and in India to promote the state and its unique cultural identity.
