Port Blair, Nov 28: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to earmark a proper swimming area at Wandoor, Chidiyatapu and Corbyn’s Cove beaches with double safety netting for tourists and local residents, so that safe swimming can be opened in these three prominent beaches.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Sharma added that as tourism has revived in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, thousands of tourists are reaching Port Blair on a daily basis and many of them are going back deeply disappointed as they are unable to swim in any of the beaches of Port Blair and adjoining areas.
He pointed out that Andaman and Nicobar Islands being a beach destination, tourists mainly plan to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands to experience swimming in sea and also to enjoy water sports activities but in all the beaches in and around Port Blair, viz Wandoor, Chidiyatapu and Corbyn’s Cove swimming is prohibited because of threat of crocodile attack.
The Member of Parliament said that tourists who spend thousands of rupees to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands get very disappointed when they are told that swimming is only allowed in Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep and not in Port Blair and adjoining areas.
This is sending a negative signal to all over the world and will surely harm Andaman’s Tourism Industry in the coming future, he mentioned.
Mr. Sharma added that not only tourists, local residents are also unable to swim in any of the beaches of Port Blair and adjoining areas even when they live very close to sea, which is a major source of disappointment.
He said that Tourism is the main Industry in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and thousands of people are solely dependent on Tourism for their livelihood and this is extremely important to look into these important issues to promote Andaman Tourism globally.
