Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Several development projects have been proposed by the government to provide a major boost up to the tourism of the picturesque Andaman and Nicobar Islands and turn it into a major tourist attraction like Maldives and Mauritius.
The prime projects for the all-round development of the Andamans are like premium tents and tree houses, mangrove interpretation centre, turtle observatory centre, island hopping facility, beach shacks and sunrise points, premium island resorts, beach promenade, nature trail and camping facility other than infrastructure.
A Home ministry official confirmed that these projects are anticipated to attract investments of over Rs 650 crore and have in-built condition of 60 percent local employment. The Andamans is the renowned for its unspoiled natural beauty world over.
It’s known for rich marine life, flora and fauna spread across 836 islands, islets and rocks.
The islands present eye-catching views with rich culture and heritage.
“The pristine water with world class beaches and shallow reefs are a major attraction for tourists. Our aim is to make Andamans an attractive tourists destination similar to Maldives and Mauritius,” the official said.
Paving the way for ‘Ease of Tourism’, 30 islands have by now been excused from the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime and requirement of mandatory registration of internal travelers arriving in the archipelago within 24 hours of their entry has also been done away with.
The industry for the water-sports has been given a major big boost up and water-sport regulations and guidelines have been made simple, considering the safety aspect of users while honoring the interest of the operators.
The islands have experienced a major growth in the number of licenced diving centres, while adventure products like sea walk and para sailing have been newly introduced.
