Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 22: To further promote and develop Home Stays in the A&N Islands, the Tourism Department, A&N Administration organized an orientation-cum-interaction programme for registered Home Stay owners in the conference hall of the Directorate of Disaster Management today. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Tourism), Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, graced the programme as the chief guest. The Secretary (IP&T), Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, the Director (IP&T), Shri Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, along with Home Stay owners, were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Tourism), Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, expressed her happiness over the overwhelming response from Home Stay owners for the interaction programme, which was devised to discuss ways to further improve the quality of stay for visiting tourists in the A&N Islands. She stated that tourists booking Home Stays are looking for more than just accommodation—they seek cultural experiences, local cuisine, and meaningful interaction with local people. “We need to focus on the unique experiences we are offering to our tourists related to this place, so that it prompts them to visit again and again,” she remarked.
She added that it is encouraging to note that there are more than 100 registered Home Stays in the A&N Islands. She urged Home Stay owners to explore how Home Stays on the mainland are flourishing and suggested that, if required, exchange visits for Home Stay owners from the Islands could be arranged to provide first-hand exposure to the functioning of mainland Home Stays.
In her address, the Secretary (IP&T), Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, said this interaction programme is the first initiative of the Tourism Department to bring all Home Stay owners onto a single platform to hear their concerns and gather suggestions on making tourists’ stay in the Islands more pleasant and memorable. She informed that the Department of Tourism is developing a new, attractive website where all Home Stays will be showcased on a dedicated page. She urged the owners to contribute good photographs/videos of their Home Stays along with contact details. This, she said, will help Home Stay owners increase their reach among tourists visiting the Tourism Department’s website.
She further stated that refresher sessions have also been planned for the benefit of Home Stay owners to make them aware of how to interact with tourists, understand their expectations, and improve offerings such as cuisine. “Home Stays are not just places to stay; they also serve as guides for tourists to understand the local culture and community,” she concluded.
Welcoming the chief guest and others, the Director (IP&T), Shri Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, said the main objective of conducting this programme is to interact with Home Stay owners on ways to enhance the visitor experience so that tourists carry back fond memories of the area in particular and the A&N Islands in general. He added that through this programme, the Directorate of Tourism has provided a platform for Home Stay owners to share their problems and suggestions, enabling the preparation of actionable steps for the further growth of tourism in the Islands.
During the interaction session, some Home Stay owners shared valuable suggestions for improvement and measures to increase the duration of tourists’ stay in Sri Vijaya Puram.
Later, during the refresher session, Shri Seemanta Kumar Deka, HoD, BBA (Tourism), JNRM; Shri N. Vel Murugan, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Sri Vijaya Puram; and Shri Uday Narayan, Faculty, DBRAIT, addressed the gathering.