Sri Vijaya Puram, March 31: The Directorate of Tourism, A&N Administration, organized a Familiarization (FAM) Tour to Little Andaman Island from 29th to 31st March, 2026 (3 Days/2 Nights), reaffirming its commitment to promoting the island as an emerging tourism destination and enhancing its visibility across travel and digital platforms.
Despite the short notice, the initiative witnessed an encouraging response from leading travel agents and stakeholders. Participants included reputed, registered travel agents of the Department such as Andaman Fiesta (Gold category) and the Best Andaman Deal (Gold Category), along with the President and members of ANTOA and FORTO, media influencers, stakeholders from Hut Bay and officials from the Tourism Department and Doordarshan (DDK). The tour provided an immersive experience of Little Andaman’s key attractions, including Butler Bay Beach, White Surf Waterfall, Netaji Nagar Beach, and other eco-tourism sites. The pristine beauty, serene landscapes, and unspoiled charm of the island left a lasting impression on participants. The well-curated itinerary combined site visits with meaningful interactions with local travel agents, hoteliers, PRIs, SHGs, offering valuable insights into tourism infrastructure, local experiences and opportunities for sustainable development.
A significant highlight was the emphasis on the island’s cultural richness. Participants opined that the future of tourism lies in ‘experience-based travel,’ where visitors can engage with the local traditions, lifestyle, and heritage, thereby creating a unique and enriching destination identity. The participants appreciated the initiative and acknowledged the island’s immense tourism potential, while also highlighting the need for continued infrastructural development to support increased tourist inflow. The Directorate has expressed gratitude to the Pramukh and members of the Zilla Parishad, Little Andaman, for their active participation and warm hospitality.
Building on this momentum, the Directorate of Tourism will be organizing the first-ever Grand Surfing Festival at Butler Bay Beach, Little Andaman from 9th to 12th April, 2026, in collaboration with the Surfing Federation of India. The event aims to position the island as a premier surfing destination and attract adventure enthusiasts from across the country. All are cordially invited to witness and participate in this celebration of adventure, culture, and island spirit.