Andamans Eco-tourism to be opened on 6 Islands

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Andamans - LR Ross & Smith Island at Diglipur Andaman
Andamans - LR Ross & Smith Island at Diglipur Andaman

Andamans – LR Ross & Smith Island at Diglipur Andaman

“There’s growing interests from visiting Superyachts in the Andaman Islands and recent news of eco-tourism activities opening in six Andaman Islands is another positive move”, reports R. Rathnam of Asia Pacific Superyachts Andaman Islands.

According to the Andaman Chronicle, the Government of India has emphasized the importance of tourism as one of the main drivers of speedy economic growth. The Honorable Prime Minister of India has set the agenda to develop 1000 new destinations for domestic and foreign tourists in the near future in the country.

Following this trajectory the Lt. Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands made an announcement in January, 2015 that the department of Environment & Forests will try to identify some Islands where eco-tourism/tourism activities may be taken up so as to boost the economic development of Andaman & Nicobar group of Islands and also to find employment for its youths.

The Lt. Governor held a meeting with the Chief Secretary, PCCF (ANI), PCCF (WL), Secretary (Tourism) and CF (WL) 04.06.2015 with regard to the development of ecotourism in the new areas identified by the department of Environment and Forests. The department of Environment & Forests has now identified six islands for taking up eco-tourism/ tourism activities.

The Island sites identified for the development of eco-tourism include Inglis Island, Sir Hugh Rose, North Button Island, Middle Button Island, Tarmugli Island, and Aves Island.

The islands are part of a group of 572 Islands, islets and rocks located in the South East of India in the Bay of Bengal and lie along an arc approximately north-south covering a distance of nearly 800 kilometers.

The Lt. Governor directed PCCF (WL) to submit concept note for eco-tourism development in these islands.  He further decided that concept note may be prepared for 1 or 2 Islands to begin within next month and would seek in principle approval from the Govt. of India in this regard. This will pave the way for economic development of these Islands.

The emerald beauty of the Andaman and Nicobar islands is slowly opening up their territory to international tourists, offering themselves to ‘high-value-low-volume’ eco-tourism. Floating in splendid isolation, the islands are marching towards becoming one of the most sought-after global tourist destinations.

International yachties have enjoyed the emerald islands for some years and like the short cruising distance from Phuket, Thailand to Port Blair. Upon arrival they’ve been particularly charmed by adventure tourism activities like trekking, island camping, high sea game fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, skiing and wind surfing.

Foreign visitors swear by the near unexplored serenity of the sea, the sun and pristine beauty of forests. “There are hardly any such destinations left for nature freaks across the globe,” they say in unison, reports the Times of India.