Port Blair, Sept. 28: On the occasion of ‘World Tourism Day’, Tourism sector in the Islands received a major boost with Andaman & Nicobar Administration announcing re-opening of Tourism Activities in the Islands. While the Tourism activities have been permitted in South Andaman District (except Little Andaman), other districts will be considered in subsequent phases.
Tourism sector is the fulcrum of the economy of the A&N Islands, on which livelihood of thousands of people depend. However, the tourism activities had been suspended in the Islands, in the wake of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. With the announcement of ‘Unlock’ phase by Government of India, various sectors of the economy are being gradually opened up. Accordingly, A&N Administration has decided to permit tourism activities, while prescribing due precautions.
The tourism activities which have been permitted in the first phase include opening of beaches, museums, light & sound show at National Memorial Cellular Jail and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island and water sport activities of boat rides and snorkelling. Other activities like scuba diving, sea walk, parasailing etc. will be considered in the subsequent phases.
The Department of Tourism has prescribed detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for these activities, which need to be followed by all stake holders. Apart from these SOPs prescribed by Tourism Department, other orders and advisories issued by Govt. of India, other departments of A&N Islands and any other competent authority, as applicable will need to be followed.
In order to kick-start the activities and celebrate World Tourism Day – 2020, cleaning and sanitization drives have been planned on 27th September, 2020 at National Memorial Cellular Jail, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, and Anthropological Museum in association with Industry Associations.
It is hoped that with the opening of Tourism sector in the Islands, economic growth will pick up, providing livelihood support to the Islanders.