27th September is celebrated as World Tourism Day. The purpose is to raise awareness on the role of tourism in our economy and how it affects social, cultural and political values worldwide.
I am happy to learn that the World Tourism Day is also being celebrated in A&N Islands. The uniqueness of these islands has a vast potential to attract tourists and hence, tourism, undoubtedly, should become the largest employment provider in these islands. Hence, our endeavour should be to improve the available infrastructure based on the carrying capacity of these islands and to strike a balance between ecology and development.
This year’s theme is “Tourism and Water: Protecting Our Common Future”. In the context of our highly eco-sensitive islands, only sustainable eco-friendly development can help save natural resources like water, forests and environment.
Since our water resources are dependent on rains, we have to educate the tourists and the residents of these Islands to conserve water and stop its wastage. Conservation measures should also find place in the tourist brochures and other handouts.
I call upon all stakeholders to conserve our natural resources and ecological character of these Islands with sustainable tourism activities.
Sd/-
Lt. Gen (Retd) A K Singh,
Lieutenant Governor
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
