With many hospitals in the state offering world-class medical facilities, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation will soon launch a website on medical tourism to guide people seeking treatment.

"People across the country and even from Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain come to Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai and Coimbatore, for treatment. TTDC will host a website to guide them about hospitals and places of tourist importance in the state," TTDC managing director M Rajaram told PTI.

He pointed out that affordability is the prime factor for foreigners seeking medical treatment in Tamil Nadu.

"We discussed the issue with the health secretary and officials from the Indian Medical Association and the formalities are being worked out," Rajaram said.

The TTDC will also assist foreign tourists with visa clearances. The corporation will also soon establish tourist desks at private hospitals to guide patients and people accompanying them.

"These desks will be managed by the hospitals with guidance from the TTDC," Rajaram said.

Most people who come to Tamil Nadu for treatment prefer to go in spiritual tourism too. "We will make special arrangements for patients and their family members to visit temples and other tourist spots at affordable rates," he said.

The TTDC also plans to launch a "Freedom Tourist Circuit" that will offer trips to birthplaces of freedom fighters and places of national importance, he said.

"We are contemplating launching a Rural Tourist Circuit with special focus on more than 100 model villages in the state," he said.

The Jain Circuit, which offers trips to Jain monuments in Tamil Nadu, including those in Thiruparthikundram, Vallimalai, Tirumalai, Tirunathar Kundru, Melchittamur, Sittannavasal and Uthamapalayam, attracts more tourists from north Indian states, especially Rajasthan, he said.

With the state having five World Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO, including the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur and Nilgiris mountain railway, the World Heritage Circuit is also becoming popular among tourists, he said.

To attract more tourists to Tamil Nadu, the TTDC will organise travel marts and participate in fairs across the country and even abroad.

Earlier, the corporation had announced that it would launch a 14-day South India Tour by rail and road on September 23 from Delhi to facilitate visits by people in northern states.