Udaipur, Oct. 14: Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency participated in the Tourism Conclave chaired by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Minister of Tourism at Udaipur, Rajasthan under the vision of ‘One State One Global Destination’.
Hon’ble Lt. Governor, highlighted the post-COVID tourism resurgence in A&N Islands, with domestic arrivals rising nearly 200% and international tourists up 157% since 2022. To position the A&N Islands as an Iconic Diving destination, Andaman & Nicobar Administration is poised to setup three Guinness World Records in diving to position the A&N Islands as a premier Scuba Diving Hub in the Indian Ocean Region and in the Indo-Pacific. Unique diving circuits will be developed around the Button Islands (North/South/Middle), Barren Island (South Asia’s only active volcano), and the pristine beaches of Swaraj Dweep.
Hon’ble Lt. Governor also apprised about the core strategic initiative for Heritage Tourism Circuit encompassing National Memorial sites viz. Cellular Jail & Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Dweep, in addition Viper Island, Chatham Island, Manipur Parvat with global benchmarks and PPP mode with support from the Ministry for funding and globally recognized consultancies. Flagship infrastructure projects viz. five-star eco-resorts, Greenfield Airports at Great Nicobar and Sri Vijaya Puram, seaplane operations, cruise tourism, modernized helicopter fleet, and new ship acquisitions will usher in a new era of sustainable World Class Tourism.