MADURAI: A member of Madurai Airport Advisory Committee and president of Agri & All Trade Chamber in Madurai Mr.S.Rethinavelu had raised questions to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry on why a tourist place like Madurai was not included in the ASEAN countries list for direct international flights when there was an open invitation from them.
“Already we are disappointed that Madurai has no international flights from our airport here. What is even more painful is that Madurai airport was not included in the ASEAN invitation to promote direct international flights between their countries and Indian tourist destinations. ASEAN which is Association of South East Asian Nations includes 10 countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. There is no need for bilateral agreements for this invitation that came to our Civil Aviation Ministry. Shockingly, Madurai which is the home for iconic tourist locations in Tamil Nadu was not included and India had recommended 18 tourist cities in the country,” Mr.S.Rethinavelu has said in a press statement issued from Madurai on June 12th 2025.
He pointed out that Madurai is the central point for tourism to visit iconic locations like Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Kanyakumari, Courtallam and Kodaikanal and the top most world famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai.
“While Madurai was not included, the Civil Aviation Ministry of Government of India had included tourism spot Khajuraho which don’t even have a functional international airport. Had Madurai been recommended, the ASEAN countries would have already launched direct flights to Madurai and that could have led to south Tamil Nadu’s economic, business and industrial growth. Madurai has missed a great opportunity and we are now appealing to the Government of India and to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to include Madurai in the ASEAN countries tourist cities list for direct flights,” Mr.S.Rethinavelu has appealed in the press statement from Madurai on June 12th 2025.
