Port Blair, Dec. 27: Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) inaugurated the annual cultural extravaganza- Island Tourism Festival as the chief guest amidst fanfare at ITF Ground here this evening. The inaugural function was graced by the Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Chief Secretary (I/C), A&N Administration, Shri Nikhil Kumar, IAS, DGP, Shri Devesh Chandra Srivastva,IPS, PCCF, Dr. T.S Ashok Kumar, IFS, Adhyaksh, ZPSA, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Chairperson, PBMC, Smt. S. Selvi, senior officers of Administration, PRI members and general public. This spectacular festival is being organized by the Tourism Department with the support of Department of Art & Culture, A&N Administration.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor said, due to COVID Pandemic, the A&N Administration is organizing this festival after a hiatus of 4 years, since November, 2019 and congratulated the Administration for organizing this festival. The Lt. Governor said that owing to its natural beauty and glorious culture, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is becoming the most sought after tourism destination across the globe. The main objective of organizing the Island Tourism Festival should be with the aim to showcase A&N Islands as an attractive tourist destination, which draws tourists to the Islands in large footfall and in turn develop the tourism sector in the Islands. To ensure more tourism footfall to the Islands, Administration in coordination with the concerned Ministry is focusing on giving further boost to infrastructure development and it is hopeful that in the coming year, the Islands will witness more number of tourists.
The Lt. Governor remarked that the focus of the Administration is to develop tourism in A&N Islands without polluting the environment and there is no plan of establishing medium and heavy industry in the Islands. Referring to an ‘Investors’ Meet’ organized by A&N Administration at New Delhi on Dec.4, 2023 at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, the Lt. Governor mentioned that the meet attended by 150 top end players from Tourism and Hospitality Industry was a very successful one. The participants have expressed deep interest and enthusiasm in investing in various projects in A&N Islands. Of this, about 8 to 10 projects are in the stage of ‘ready to launch’ and it is expected that in a span of three to five months, these projects will reach its tendering stage.
The Lt. Governor mentioned that ambitious projects like CANI Submarine OFC Project, newly constructed Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Azad Hind Fauj Setu on Humphrey Strait etc. have become game changers in the Tourism Sector of A&N Islands. With the coming up of International airport, the flight frequency to the Islands have increased, thereby giving a boost to the tourism sector in A&N Islands.
Highlighting about several upcoming developmental projects being initiated in the Islands, the Lt. Governor said that once the Middle Strait Bridge is completed, it will reduce the travel time to N&M Andaman to a great extent. He also informed about the status of two new Greenfield Airports, which will come up at Port Blair and Great Nicobar and has been sanctioned by the Govt. of India. He further informed that the site selection and Lidar survey for these proposed airports have been completed.
For the promotion of tourism, the Lt. Governor said, operators have been selected for 4 seaports i.e., Long Island, Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Port Blair for starting the sea plane operation. He further disclosed that for the operation of seaplane, water segment infrastructure development is underway and it will become operational soon. Under UDAN Scheme, the runway extension work for the Shibpur airstrip at Diglipur is underway, the Lt. Governor said adding that a 1000 mtr. runway is already operational there. The operators for Shibpur, Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar have been selected for the operation of fixed winged air services, he said.
The Lt. Governor also stated that transformational projects like International Container Transshipment Terminal at Great Nicobar, two new Greenfield Airport at Port Blair and Great Nicobar, will prove to be milestones in the development of these Islands. Informing about the ICTT, the Lt. Governor informed that it is in the final stages of launch for which environmental and wildlife clearances have been obtained, DPR is in final stage. In the EOI, 10 big players have responded.
In his address on the occasion, the Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma said the ITF is being organized after a gap of 4 years and thanked the Lt. Governor, A &N Islands for organizing this festival. He said, the ITF is always an awaited festival for the Islanders as it provides them the platform to showcase their cultural diversity. He urged tourists and visitors to come and witness the ITF and carry back fond memories of the Islands unique culture and scenic beauty. He also suggested the Administration to organize festival of this magnitude, twice a year, which will further promote the Island tourism. He also appreciated the stalls set up for promoting Govt. Schemes being implemented by various Departments of the Administration during this five-day festival.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary, I/C, Shri Nikhil Kumar said that Island Tourism Festival is a mega cultural event organized in A&N Islands to showcase the composite culture of A&N Islands which is unique in itself. He said that ITF is being conducted after a gap of 4 years under the able guidance of the Lt. Governor. He said that the festival was earlier known as ‘Islands on the March’ during 1980s and in 1994, it was named as ‘Island Tourism Festival’. He said that the five days festival will see performances by artistes from mainland as well as the Islands at various designated venues for the entertainment of the Islanders and tourists alike. The event will be held at various locations viz., Island Tourism Festival Ground, Wandoor, Wimberlygunj, Ferrargunj, Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep, Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Hutbay, Marina, etc. The Islands are known for its natural beauty and tourism prospects world over and efforts are on by the Administration to establish Andaman & Nicobar Islands as global tourist destination. The GoI has lauded the efforts and initiatives of the Administration in promoting tourism in the Islands. He said, for the development of tourism, the tourism Department organizes yearlong programmes which includes Holi Festival, Sand Art Festival, Food Festival, Island Music Festival, Dance and Music Festival, Monsoon Beach Festival, Beach Volleyball Tournament, Andaman Marathon, Seafood Fest. During the five-day festival, artistes from different parts of the Islands as well as the mainland like team from SPIC MACAY, EZCC, Hasya Kavi Sammelan, will be performing, he said, urging one and all to enjoy the mega event.
Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and other dignitaries’, the Secretary (Tourism), Shri Vishwendra said, varied and vibrant art forms will be presented by the artistes during the festival. He said, apart from participation of artistes from cultural troupes from mainland, local artists from 50 cultural groups have been given the opportunity to perform during the event. The festival is truly dedicated to the spirit of unity & diversity of the Island, he said.
Proposing the vote of thanks, the Special Secretary, IP&T, Ms. Nandini Maharaj, IAS, thanked the Lt. Governor for inaugurating the gala ITF-2023. She expressed her gratitude to all the stakeholders, Govt. Departments and others for their contribution in organizing the event in a grand way.
The inaugural programme featured ‘Ganesh Vandana’ performance by differently abled artistes on wheelchairs who are associated with- ‘We Are One’. The team performed Mahabarat- Mahishasur Vadh and Patriotic Dance. The team members included Husnain (Founder & Director), Karuna Sarkar, Gulshan Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Priya Kumari, Manish Varma, Arjun, Harbeer, Shaily, Suman and Surbhi. This was followed by Choreography presentation titled ‘Resilient Rythms: Dancing through Waves of Hope’ by eminent Choreographer from Delhi, Ms. Shohini Dutta. The evening also witnessed Live Band performance by Nicobarese Artistes ‘Kuon Panam’ known for their soulful performance packed with electrifying performance by the lead singer, Ramesh Kumar, guitarist and keyboard player who presented some Bollywood songs.
After the inaugural programme, the first day of Island Tourism Festival saw performance by Rajasthani Folk Music by artistes of SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) followed by performance by ‘We are One’ and Choreography presentation and live Band Kuon Panam. Performance by artistes of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) featuring Bihu Folk Dance of Assam, Rouf Folk Dance of Jammu& Kashmir and Faag, Panihari, Loor and Dhamal Folk Dance of Haryana.