Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Feb 13: As part of the efforts of A&N Administration towards restoring normal tourism activities in isles, the Directorate of Shipping Services, as an, interim arrangement, has started operating boats between Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex to Ross Island from today.
For this, huge publicity was made and today nearly 1000 tourists reached Water Sports Complex, happily. But to their dismay they were shocked to see that there is only one boat for them, with only 50 passenger capacity and adding to the plight, the ferry was about to make only three trips.
The Director of Shipping had already clarified that MV Durgaprasad will be available only after 9.30 am once the Panighat trip is over and again before 3.00 PM Panighat trip the boat will be called back.
This created total chaos at Marina Park, tourists and tour operators were almost wrestling with each other to get tickets, those who did not get tickets were deeply upset and frustrated.
Tour Operators who had brought tourists to the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex with an assurance to send them to Ross were in deep trouble as they had to face the anger of tourists.
When situation went out of control the Director of Tourism, himself reached the spot but even he could not do anything for the tourists as the DSS had already mentioned that they do not have sufficient boat for Ross Trips.
“This is a mockery of system. For thousands of tourists the local government has provided only 150 tickets? Where would others go? Better they should have kept Ross Island close for all,” said an angry tourists.
Tour Operators are equally troubled. “After eighteen long days the Administration has come up with this remedy for tourists. The Administration should either increase the ferry or keep Ross Island totally closed.
Late evening tour operators and other stake holders held a meeting at Port Blair and decided to shoot a letter to the Director of Tourism tomorrow highlighting this point.
It is learnt that situation was same in Wandoor, where for nearly 200 tourists, only 50 tickets for Jollybouy was released.
It seems that the present system is a complete eye-wash and an effort to show the Lt. Governor that all is well in tourism sector. Administration is clearly struggling to put things order.
The mockery is then when a cleaner ‘Prabhu’ operated MV Aqua Marine as Boat Master, resulting in the capsizing of the ferry, the Administration has changed the complete set of rules for boat operators. This accident happened because wrong person was put in wrong job. Now the same Administration is trying to run the Tourism Department with an Officer from Forest Department.
Andaman Sheekha is sure that the present Director of Tourism is putting up his best efforts but still we hope that the entire “Tourism Department” won’t capsize like MV Aqua Marine.
Oh.. no.. this is not done. This is not the way tourists be treated anywhere. Yes, it is very true that 50 seats for 1000 tourist would create more problems than any solutions. This shows that the officials were merely interested in “start for nameshake” and not with proper data, intention, a proper brainstorm and plan. Also to my surprise these officials seems to work on isolation and do not work with local travel agents. Would local travel agents invited for discussion the outcome would have been something else and for sure better one.
My humble request to tourism department is not to play with the sentiments of tourists/operators and do whatever it takes to restore the condition for tourists in Andaman Islands with no personal and political agenda.