chennai as times change so has the tamil nadu tourism development corporation ttdc after operating fixed itinerary tours over the years ttdc is now offering customised travel options to suit preferences of travellers ttdc launched the new scheme after receiving requests from tourists to operate tours to destinations preferred by them gone are the days when travellers used to be satisfied with fixed package tours tourists these days have a clear idea of the destination they want to visit we have been receiving requests to operate tours to places preferred by tourists people who travel in groups often prefer such arrangement because they have specific interests said a senior ttdc official for a customized tour ttdc prepares an itinerary provides a bus with a tour guide and accommodation based on inputs from tourists such tours work out cheaper if it involves interstate travel because ttdc buses are exempted from tax levied by other states the governmentrun ttdc also has an edge over private tour operators because it owns hotels or guest houses at affordable rates in most tourist spots in the state earlier foreign travellers used to take such tours now domestic travelers also prefer to go on such custommade tours recently a group of 35 tourists from delhi went on an eightday trip travelling through madurai kanyakumari thanjavur chidambaram puducherry and mamallapuram before they were dropped off at nellore they sent us an email requesting a customised trip and listed the places they wanted to travel we arranged a coach and prepared an itinerary and sent it back said a ttdc official ttdc receives several such mails daily from tourists in kerala andhra pradesh and karnataka requesting custommade tours of tamil nadu all interactions are done online the official said at present a group of 17 tourists from malaysia are travelling around tamil nadu on one such custommade tour though customised tours have gained attention ttdcs regular package tours continue to be popular encouraged by the favourable response to its tamil nadu tours and temple tours ttdc is now planning to start five new tours by july 15