Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Oct 16: The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the National Apex Body of Tour Operators with large membership base from across the country, has requested the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands, to give suitable directives to remove restrictions on operation of flights and ferries in order to Save Tourism and revive jobs in tourism and hospitality industry.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Pronab Sarkar, President of IATO, wrote that as per information received by him, Andaman & Nicobar Administration had announced opening of Tourism activities on 27th of September 2020 i.e. on the World Tourism Day. However, local administration has issued directives to the Airport Authority of India restricting arrival of only two flights per day from the mainland.
“Also Andaman Administration has restricted private and government ferries to operate between Port Blair, Swaraj and Shaheed Dweep. The above decisions of the administration are creating hindrances/bottlenecks and are counterproductive in our efforts of reviving tourism to Andaman & Nicobar Islands and our members who are promoting tourism to Andaman are depressed with the decision taken by the Andaman Administration. Many of our members not only in Port Blair but also in the main land have secured handful of bookings in these challenging times and now are being forced to reschedule/cancel the bookings they have received. Also Two flights which have been allowed will be able to cater to the demand of local residents of Andaman and tourists will not get the bookings,” Mr. Sarkar said.
Many believe that such concerns expressed by the IATO, must be taken seriously by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration as the people associated with Andaman’s Tourism Industry have suffered huge financial loss and mental agony since beginning of 2020 because of this Corona pandemic.
