Swaraj Dweep, Dec. 7: India Tourism, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), successfully conducted a one-day Emergency Response Training Programme at the Panchayat Hall, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep.
The initiative aimed to strengthen emergency preparedness among frontline tourism personnel, especially those engaged in marine and adventure activities. A total of 50 participants attended the training, including police personnel, boat boys, scuba diving instructors, parasailing operators, hotel staff and other field-level workers.
Mr. Vel Murugan, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Port Blair, addressed the gathering and underlined the Ministry’s focus on improving safety standards and building a skilled tourism workforce across the islands.
Shri Saikat Biswas, Co-Chairman, Eastern Region, ATOAI, highlighted the urgent need for emergency response training in the Andaman Islands due to limited healthcare infrastructure and longer evacuation timelines. He also conveyed his appreciation to Dive India for their field support and thanked Nautika for their assistance as the travel partner for the programme.
The training was conducted by Dr. Freston Marc Sirur, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. His session covered CPR, drowning rescue, trauma care, emergency communication, and practical demonstrations tailored to island-specific challenges.
Participants responded positively to the hands-on training and expressed the need for regular refresher sessions to further strengthen safety protocols in tourism operations.
India Tourism and ATOAI reaffirm their commitment to supporting safety enhancement and capacity-building initiatives to promote responsible and secure tourism across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.