By Dr. Dinesh
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with their pristine beaches and unmatched natural beauty, continue to face the challenge of attracting steady tourist inflow, especially during lean travel months. While roadshows and tourism fairs come and go, few initiatives directly motivate travellers to choose Andaman over other coastal destinations.
Here’s a simple, actionable idea that could change that “Fly to Andaman – 10 on the 10th.”
On the 10th of every month, hotels could reimburse the airfare of 10 domestic travellers flying into Sri Vijaya Puram from Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, directly the four main nearest mainland gateways only.
Reimbursement would be processed at check-out, based on the guest’s valid boarding pass and fare receipt. This ensures guests complete at least one night’s stay, preventing early check-outs or no-shows from claiming the offer. Hotels can adjust the reimbursement against the final bill or credit it as part of check-out payment.
To keep the process transparent, participating hotels can display a board at reception showing the reimbursable airfare range, typically ₹4,000 to ₹10,000. Any fare below or beyond ₹10,000 would not be reimbursed.
At first glance, a hotelier might wonder, why lose ₹10,000 a day?
The answer lies in strategic investment, not cost. Reimbursing ten tickets averaging ₹10,000 totals ₹1 lakh. Yet even a single high-end room occupancy can yield ₹40,000–₹50,000 through room tariffs, food, beverages, excursions, and extended stays. Consistent occupancy also strengthens staff retention, supply chains, and property visibility. It’s an investment in brand equity and destination appeal, not a loss.
Managing High Occupancy
If a hotel has 40 rooms occupied by 80 guests on the 10th, it does not mean 80 reimbursements. To control costs,
Cap reimbursements at 10 guests per hotel, regardless of total occupancy.
Use a lottery wheel or digital randomizer,
Assign numbered tokens to all eligible guests at check-in.
Spin the wheel 10 times to select the winners.
Remove winning numbers after each spin to avoid duplicates. Guests can watch the spin live which adds as a mini entertainment during dinner gathering, with excitement & credibility.
Verification ensures guests present boarding pass and flight invoice.
Only guests completing at least one night qualify.
This approach keeps the promotion fair, exciting, and financially manageable.
Social Media amplification
make the offer Instagram-worthy, winners can take a picture with the “10 on the 10th” display board and share it. This turns each reimbursed ticket into viral marketing, spreading awareness organically and encouraging future participation.
High-end hotels can take the lead initially. Once results are visible, mid-range and boutique properties will naturally join in. Together, they can create a self-sustaining tourism booster, keeping Andaman in the spotlight, not just as a destination, but as a creative model for Indian tourism.
After all, smart hospitality is not about offering discounts. It’s about creating reasons to travel. “Fly to Andaman – 10 on the 10th” might just be the reason travellers need.