The union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has realized the importance of tourism in this nature’s gifted paradise. Efforts have been made to declare this economic activity as industry as per recommendations of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. With a view to developing the tourism in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, it has been decided to treat ‘Tourism’ as an industry in the Union Territory. This will enable those engaged in tourism and promotional activities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Islands to become eligible for concessions/incentives as applicable to the economic industrial sector from time to time wherever such schemes are relevant to tourism activities.
With the air connections increasing and the number of hotels and resorts also going up, Andaman tour packages are getting very popular with both international and the domestic guests.
The following concessions are made available to the tourism sector under relevant schemes operated by different departments such as industry, transport and education, etc.
- Subsidy for preparation of feasibility/project report.
- Investment subsidy as applicable from time to time.
- Incentives for training for local manpower.
- Augmenting availability of funds from state’s financial corporations.
- Concessions in electricity and water charges.
- Allocation of land at concessional rate.
- Exemption from building tax levied by the Revenue Department/Municipal Corporation.
Concessions are also given to and made available to classified hotels, restaurants, purchase of luxury cars, coaches and boats etc., by tour operators, construction of amusement parks, recreation centers, auditoriums, handicrafts emporiums, rope ways, institutions teaching surfing, skiing, trekking, etc.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are rich in resources for tourism which are found in abundance. The natural beauty of the Islands is very attractive which often urges the writers to term them as the Green Islands in the Marigold sun. They are now being recognized as .tourists’ paradise by both the domestic and foreign tourists. The expanse of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is everywhere sparklingly beautiful. The surrounded waters are studded in many directions with numerous hillocks, rocks and islets, many of them exceedingly pretty and picturesque with marvelous green oasis in the Bay of Bengal.
A most hospitable and cosmopolitan society, free from rigidity of caste, creed and religion, projecting composite Indian culture, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are characterized by unity in diversity. The undulating terrain, the inter-play of land, sea and serpentine creeks, the bright white trips of the sun-kissed sea beaches, the blue bays, the rich tropical forests fringed by bright green mangroves, all combine to enhance the scenic value of the Islands in a way not to be found anywhere else in the country. The green vegetation and back waters etc. altogether make the Islands most serene and enchanting.
There are about 1200 industrial units in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. All these are wood and marine based, etc. But the industrial development in the islands has not been fast enough. Though the population growth is quite high, better improvement in literacy rate, provision for incentives and concessions, subsidies, and bounties can prove a big help to the industrialists. Hence the tourism industry, along with the other allied activities like trade and commerce needs attention of the administration, planners, policy makers, hoteliers, economists, researchers, academicians and tour operators to find out ways and means to improve the tourism facilities by reducing the transport fares both for ships as well as for flights in terms of different socio cultural and economic, and marketing indicators so that, tourism in these islands can reach the vast majority of population. This requires effective planning and a detailed study of the available resources favorable to the tourism industry in this territory. For more information on tours and sightseeing in Andaman’s, contact Swan Tours – a travel agency in India since 1995.