Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Nov 08: The decision of Administration to make purchase of return ticket mandatory for tourists visiting Neil and Havelock Islands has not gone down well with local tour operators.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr M Vinod, President, Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) although has welcomed this step but has said that this step will benefit tourists only if the Shipping Department increases the advance ticket booking days from three to seven days.
“The Advance ticket booking days must be extended to seven days only then a tourist can plan and book return tickets for government ferries otherwise he or she will be forced to buy return tickets of private ferries,” pointed out Mr. M Vinod the president of AATO.
He also alleged that the Administration never talk to stakeholders of Tourism before taking any crucial decision about tourism, which ultimately leave adverse impact on local tourism.
Further talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr S Bhuvaneshwaran, Vice President, Andaman Nicobar Tour Operators Association said that this decision of administration has come when the tourism season has just started. He said that this decision is justified only when the DSS is capable to fulfil the need but such a decision is not at all welcome because many walk-in guest may suffer because of such a decision.
