Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 30: A delegation of the Federation of Andaman Tourism Organisations (FOATO), led by its President Mr. Rathnam and Vice President Mr. A.P. Abdul Majeed, met the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Sharma, at Lok Bhavan, Sri Vijaya Puram, today.
The delegation held a detailed discussion with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor on various important issues concerning the tourism sector and the overall development of tourism infrastructure and connectivity in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The major issues highlighted by FOATO included:
1. Improvement of air connectivity to the Islands, including better frequency and connectivity with major cities across India.
2. Reduction and rationalisation of airfares, particularly during the peak tourism season, to make the destination more affordable and competitive.
3. Improvement of basic tourist infrastructure, including essential facilities and amenities required to provide a better experience for visitors.
4. Opening and developing more tourist destinations, spots and islands, wherever environmentally and administratively feasible, to diversify the tourism experience and distribute tourist movement across the Islands.
5. Introduction of international air connectivity, enabling direct access from key international tourism markets and strengthening Andaman’s position as an international island destination.
6. Strengthening inter-island connectivity, including better and more reliable ferry and transportation services between major tourist islands.
7. Introduction of e-Visa facilities at Sri Vijaya Puram, which would significantly improve accessibility for international tourists and support the growth of overseas tourism.
The delegation also placed before the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor various other concerns and suggestions relating to the overall growth, promotion and sustainable development of tourism in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, including the need to strengthen the tourism ecosystem and create a more visitor-friendly environment.
The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation and acknowledged the importance of the issues raised by FOATO. He stated that after assuming office, he had already initiated work towards the all-round development of the Islands and was reviewing various sectors and developmental requirements.
The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor further indicated that major announcements and concrete initiatives would be forthcoming soon, and expressed that the people of the Islands would soon see developmental priorities being translated into practical implementation on the ground.
FOATO expressed its appreciation to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor for giving time to the tourism industry representatives and for listening to the concerns and suggestions of the tourism fraternity.
The Federation reiterated its commitment to working closely with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and all stakeholders towards building a stronger, more accessible, sustainable and globally competitive tourism sector in the Islands.