Port Blair, June 11: In a meeting held in Raj Niwas today, the Lt. Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) A.K.Singh, PVSM, AVSM,SM,VSM reviewed the tourism scenario in the Islands. The tourist arrivals reached 3 lakhs for the first time last year. The LG emphasised the need to not only continue this trend but to achieve higher targets for the current year. The LG directed that all stakeholders, including the Tourism Department have to undertake concerted effort in this direction to ensure that tourist arrivals, both domestic and international, are substantially higher than last year.
In the meeting which was also attended by the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Tourism), President Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President, Association of Tour Operator’s (ATO), it was decided to come out with a well designed multi- media publicity campaign with focus on making Andamans a ‘round the year destination’.
It was decided that Andaman tourism will participate in the Paciffic Asia Travel Association Meet being hosted for the first time in India at Bangalore in September in a big way with participation by all stakeholders.
In addition, with the assistance of the Chamber and tour operators, Airlines will be requested to undertake special packages for Andamans, particularly in the lean monsoon months of July & August.
The Administration will encourage cruise tourism, Yatch tourism, and other allied activities. Efforts will be made to popularise the Islands as a destination for cruise tourism in consonance with the policy on cruise tourism as laid down by Government of India. Tourism Department will issue an EOI in this regard.
