Industries

* **Tourism & Hospitality**: The backbone of the local economy, encompassing heritage hotels, cafes, wellness retreats, and guided cultural tours. * **Manufacturing**: Includes fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), light engineering, and traditional leather goods and ceramics. * **Information Technology**: A growing sector, with tech parks and BPOs taking advantage of the city's educated workforce and proximity to Chennai. * **Textiles**: Historically dominant (e.g., the Anglo-French Textiles mill), though large-scale manufacturing has declined, boutique and handloom textiles remain prominent. * **Fisheries**: A vital coastal industry supporting local livelihoods and supplying domestic and export markets. * **Healthcare and Education**: Fueled by prominent institutions, making the city a regional hub for medical tourism and higher education.