Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Apr 30: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has put a ban on sports fishing from May 1, 2017, leaving Andaman’s tourism industry under great shock but the Andaman’s Tourism industry is still hopeful that the Administration will soon review and defer this decision.
As per sources this ban has been imposed considering the security threat to our islands but the administration has not clarified yet that how game fishing can be a threat to Andaman’s Security.
However people connected to Andaman’s Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Industry believe that safety measures to neutralize security threat can be taken without disturbing the local tourism industry.
“I don’t think there should be a security threat but we can put in place measures which will ensure that the boats that go out, take proper permission, which they are taking anyway. The number of people they are taking out with their names, can also be submitted,” said Mohd. Jadwet the former president of Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
He said that all these boats can be put with equipments with which, Administration can track movement very easily sitting at one place at Port Blair.
I think measures can put in place to ensure that the security of these islands is not threatened. We also don’t want any security to be threatened but we also don’t want safety of the boat and people are threatened. We are with the administration in this issue but we would like that such decisions are taken after proper consultation, so that we also prepare something, which could be full proof.
He said that local game fishing industry is growing very fast and presently it is having an estimate value of around 10 crore rupees per annum. He said that tourist from Europe and other parts of this world come to Andaman for game fishing with prior bookings and such ban will disturb their itinerary and bring bad name for Andaman Tourism.
We are in Shock on this decision to stop Sports fishing operations in the Andamans! Sports fishing is a great revenue generator for the Indian Operators who help promote sustainable Tourism without putting any pressure on the marine resources. Hope the Administration looks at this from all view points and keeps in mind that this is bread and butter earner for a lot of Indian citizens and local Islanders and a big Revenue generator for the Reserve Bank of India in Forex as a major number of Guests are foreign nationals who pay into our banks helping our country reduce the Fiscal deficits. Sports Fishing is one of the most popular recreational activity all over the world and many countries are promoting this as a high end Tourism generator. Its time we work together with all security agencies and adress all their concers in this regard and come up with a safe and secure way of operating it and building a platform for quality tourism for our Emrild Islands!
Game fishing and scuba diving are the main attraction for the tourists! Andaman administration should take serious steps to promote the activities to attract the tourists and livelihood of thousands!!