Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 5: The Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism, A&N Administration has prepared draft Beach Tourism Guidelines-2025 and draft Beach Tourism Policy-2025 for the pristine beaches and exceptional biodiversity. These fragile oceanic Islands host a rare mix of tropical rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. Out of a total of 836 Islands, only 31 are inhabited, leaving vast stretches of the archipelago in its natural state. With a 1,962-kilometre coastline, the Islands are home to some of the most ecologically sensitive and visually spectacular beaches in the world.
In recent years, the Islands have witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourism, particularly beach tourism, which has brought notable economic opportunities. However, this rapid growth has also resulted in mounting pressures on the environment and local communities. Unregulated tourism may lead to issues such as degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems. The rising footfall—both from domestic and international tourists—demands proactive and structured management to avoid long-term ecological damage.
The Beach Tourism Policy has been developed to respond to these challenges by providing a framework for sustainable, inclusive, and regulated tourism. Given that majority of the Islands’ area is forest and most of the beaches are in reserve forests and protected areas, it is crucial to safeguard their ecological integrity. The policy emphasizes conservation, community empowerment, and responsible tourism practices to ensure that the beaches of the A&N Islands remain vibrant and protected for future generations.
The draft Beach Tourism Policy and draft Beach Tourism Guidelines are being placed in the public domain i.e. official website of Directorate of IP&T https://www.andamantourism.gov.in/Ann_all.php seeking suggestions/comments/inputs from general public, tourism stakeholders, various Departments etc.
All valuable comments/suggestions/inputs may be submitted in writing to Director (IP&T), Directorate of IP&T, A&N Administration, Kamaraj Road, Sri Vijaya Puram or through e-mail thedirectortourism@gmail.com within a period of 30 days starting from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30.