John Wilbert
Port Blair, Feb 04: Make My Trip, Indias leading online travel company, yesterday launched a responsible tourism project aimed to eliminate single-use plastic from Shaheed Dweep, one of the most popular tourist attraction places in A&N Islands. In line with its vision to promote sustainable tourism, Make My Trip foundation has rolled out an integrated program that will not only provide necessary infrastructure and resources but will also help tourists visiting these pristine Islands make responsible choices.
The project at Shaheed Dweep includes setting up of convenience facilities at the beach including showers, toilets and locker rooms, water ATMs, distribution of reusable bottles to tourists, waste management with manpower allocation, plastic scavenging drives and capacity building initiative with the local tourism community to ensure promotion of green activities.
Speaking at the unveiling of facilities at Shaheed Dweep yesterday, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Chetan B Sanghi said, “Tourism is said one of the biggest contributors to the economic growth of A&N Islands and we are confident that environmental initiatives from industry players will help steer tourism growth on a truly sustainable path”. The Chief Secretary further stated that Make My Trip is making a commendable effort to holistically promote Responsible Tourism in Andamans and appreciated the endeavor to involve local communities as part of this project.
Mr. Deep Kalra, Founder and Group Executive Chairman, Make My Trip said, travel is a force for good and we need to ensure it makes net positive contribution to people and places. We are excited to roll out this ambitious project in Andamans to make a timely start in ensuring the we can help grow tourism responsibly in one of the fastest growing domestic tourism destination in India, he added.
A&N Administration has already taken some significant steps to reduce the usage of single use plastic including banning of less than two liter plastic bottles.
With the support from the Administration, hotel partners and local communities, the 360-degree integrated program will contribute towards maintaining the ecological balance at the Island most frequented by Indian tourists. Shaheed Dweep is known for its white sandy beaches, magnificent flora and spectacular coral reefs.
As part of its cleanliness and awareness drive in Andamans, Make My Trip Foundation carried out a plastic scavenging drive across different locations like Bharatpur Beach, Laxamanpur Beach, Sitapur Beach and Natural Bridge in Shaheed Dweep and collected over 500 kilograms of waste. The drive was carried out by school children, employees of local hotels, members of Make My Trip Foundations, Panchayat members and the local police.
