Tourism in Andaman and Nicobar sees 200% rise in domestic visitors post Covid

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed a sharp revival in tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic, with both domestic and international arrivals, Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi revealed at a tourism conclave held in Udaipur.

"I would like to highlight that there has been a post-COVID tourism resurgence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with domestic arrivals rising nearly 200% and international tourists up 157% since 2022," Admiral Joshi said while addressing industry stakeholders. He claimed that the islands are on track to achieve three Guinness World Records in the field of scuba diving, positioning the archipelago as a leading diving destination in the Indian Ocean Region.

The administration of the union territory is working on developing exclusive diving circuits in Swaraj Dweep, Button Islands, Barren Island, where 

South Asia's only active volcano exists. These circuits will attract adventure enthusiasts and showcase the marine biodiversity of the region.

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To enhance the experience of tourists, Admiral Joshi said that the administration is stepping up plans for a Heritage Tourism Circuit, which will include historic landmarks like the Cellular Jail, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, Viper Island, Chatham Island, and Manipur Parvat. "These sites will be developed in line with global standards through a Public-Private Partnership model with support from the [tourism] ministry," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

The Lieutenant Governor also outlined ambitious infrastructure plans to transform the islands into a global eco-tourism hotspot. "Flagship infrastructure projects like five-star eco-resorts, greenfield airports at Great Nicobar and Port Blair, seaplane operations, cruise tourism, modernised helicopter fleet, and new ship acquisitions will usher in a new era of sustainable World Class Tourism in the islands," he said.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) has reportedly received encouraging interest from the hospitality sector for developing five-star eco-tourism resorts under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. These projects are being planned at several exotic locations, including Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island), Megapode Resort in Port Blair, Aves Island, Long Island, and Smith Island in North and Middle Andaman.

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Chanchal Yadav, Managing Director of ANIIDCO, confirmed the response to the tenders has been strong. “We have received a good response so far, which includes five bids for the Shaheed Dweep project, four bids for the Megapode Resort redevelopment, two bids for Aves Island and one bid for Long Island,” she told PTI. A total of 12 bids were received before the submission deadline on 6 October, and the proposals are currently undergoing technical evaluation.

“Work will be awarded to the highest bidder after completion of both technical and financial evaluations,” Yadav said, adding that the Megapode Resort redevelopment is expected to be completed within three years, while the island resort projects are likely to take around four years.

Of particular note is the inclusion of Aves Island, an uninhabited and pristine location also known as Coconut Island due to its dense coconut plantations. This marks the first time the local administration has opened an uninhabited island for tourism development. While currently inaccessible and lacking accommodation facilities, the proposed resort is expected to make Aves one of the most sought-after destinations in the archipelago, rivalling the popularity of Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island).

Officials believe the eco-tourism developments will not only drive sustainable economic growth in the islands but also establish Andaman and Nicobar as a world-class destination for both heritage and adventure tourism.