Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, May 08: Aerial Bay which harbours Tourist Fiber Boats of a number of tour operators in Diglipur —wears a desolate look: Rows of empty fiber motorboats lie moored in the bay. The operators/owners frantically look for customers, but most of them return home empty-handed. “The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has robbed us of our only source of livelihood in the last two years. We would make ends meet by ferrying tourists to Ross & Smith Island,” rued Uttam Roy, the President, Diglipur Tourist Fiber Boat Owners’ Association.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Uttam Roy said that, apart from devastating trails left by the pandemic, their profession is now crippled with a number of shortcomings which are aggravating their tour operating business.
Mr. Roy said that their association is in serious need of suitable land for their association’s office; bereft of an office they can’t conduct their business activities properly. Hence a suitable land preferably at/near Aerial Bay Jetty be allotted in favour of their association, the President of the Association said.
Mr. Roy highlighted some issues of some prime tourist spots of Diglipur region; and according to him, there is a dire need of a floating jetty at Ross & Smith Island; in absence of a floating jetty, they have to face a lot of inconveniences/hardships to disembark the tourists. Hence, an immediate setting up of a floating jetty at Ross & Smith Island is an urgent need of the hour, he said. “It has been observed over the years that, due to non-existence of a Canteen and no arrangement of potable water at Ross & Smith Island, we, tourists and others have to face the wrath of hunger and thirst” Mr. Roy lamented and hence a canteen serving meals/food/snacks is desirable in the said interest, he suggested. According to Mr. Roy, beautification of a place is the foremost requirement of that place to attract tourists; but sadly enough no initiatives have been taken so far to beautify Ross & Smith Island and other tourist spots of Diglipur, he alleged. “Ross & Smith Island is one of the most enchanting tourist spots of the world lying in distinctly unappealing state which along with other tourist spots of Diglipur needs only to beautify in an echo-friendly manner to return to its original charm so as to attract and allure more and more tourists” a Tourist Fibre Boat Owner bemoaned. On the other hand, old huts at Ross & Smith Island are in derelict state which need an immediate renovation so as to give them a new look, Mr. Roy felt. Ross & Smith Island has tremendous potential and opportunity to boost tourism in Diglipur, he further said. The introduction of Water-Sports Activities in Ross & Smith Island and at other potential tourist spots will attract more tourists to Diglipur. Hence, initiatives are taken in this direction as well, he urged. It is so unfortunate that there is no proper and potable water facility at Ross & Smith Island; in fact, it reflects how serious we are in terms of rendering service to the tourists and others, Mr. Roy argued.
The President, Diglipur Tourist Fiber Boat Owners’ Association further said that, parking space at Aerial Bay near Jetty for tourist vehicles is a serious issue. Tourists have been facing this problem from the beginning and it is causing a demoralizing impact on the tourists, he rued. Hence, necessary arrangements are made to cater to the needs of parking by tourists’ vehicles at Aerial Bay, Mr Roy urged the Administration. According to him, the existing floating jetty at Aerial Bay is quite small in size in commensurate with the number of tourist boats, and as a result, tourist boat owners often find difficulties in berthing their boats, Mr. Roy claimed.
The President of the association said that, Directorate of IP&T, Port Blair plays the crucial role in promoting tourism in our islands. “But sadly enough that, Diglipur tourism finds hardly any space in the chart/literature/brochure issued by this tourism Institute” he alleged. Diglipur should be prominently highlighted as much as possible with panoramic pics/photos of Diglipur’s tourist spots like Saddle Pick, Lamiya Bay Beach, Kalipur Beach, Ross & Smith Island, Ramnagar Beach, Talbagan Beach, Elizabeth Bay, Mud Volcano at Jal Tikrey (Haathi Level), Hawaibill Cave etc in the literature/brochure which will cater to the needs of the tourists in terms of their ready reference and this will undeniably encourage and boost tourism in much neglected Diglipur, Mr. Roys harbours the belief.
“Geographically Diglipur is located in the extreme North of A & N Islands and far away from the capital city of Port Blair and it is crippled with the problem of a staggering transportation system. It has been observed that, due to the poor transportation system, tourists prefer to avoid visiting Diglipur. Hence, the frequency of inter-island boat/ship service (between Port Blair/Shaheed Dweep/Swaraj Dweep & Diglipur and vice versa) should be augmented (to a desirable number of sailings) so as to win back the confidence of the tourists again” said Mr. Roy.
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