Port Blair, July 28: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has taken up the matter of reopening of Tourism with the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and has also prominently highlighted the problems being faced by Tourism Stakeholders due to restrictions on Tourism in these Islands.
In his letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, he mentioned that the Tourism Industry of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is the most important source of Islands’ economic growth and prosperity, has suffered a heavy blow and thousands of people have lost their jobs and source of Income.
He said that as the second wave is over and the vaccination drive is also going on smoothly, experts associated with Tourism Industry feel that this is the right time to reopen tourism.
The Member of Parliament pointed out that because of the ban on Tourism Activities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands not only low-income groups of local Tourism Industry but also the businesses owners and entrepreneurs, who have taken huge amounts of loan, are also suffering heavily.
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma further said that the tourism season of 2021 is going to start shortly and most of the Tourist spots of mainland India are open, hence this is the right time to take concrete steps to reopen tourism by following all SOPs, finalized by A & N Administration.
He suggested that the Administration can continue RT-PCR test before flight and after flight for tourists and add one-day quarantine rule for all incoming tourists, which will be safe for Islanders and less inconvenient for incoming tourists.
The Member of Parliament stressed that only fully vaccinated Tourists (who have received two doses of vaccine) should be allowed so that there is minimal risk to these Islands from incoming tourists.
He mentioned that if the steps to reopen Tourism Industry are taken now, Airlines companies will schedule their flights for Andaman accordingly, before Tourism season or else the entire process will delay by some more months.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that presently flight ticket rates are astronomically high, if from now more flights are scheduled by Airlines companies the flight ticket rates will come down before Tourists season, following market pressure.
