To expand tourism in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, the Union territory administration has planned to open uninhabited
Aves Island in North and Middle Andaman district for travellers.
The Aves is a small and beautiful
island, also known as Coconut Island for its lush green coconut plantation.
Presently, Aves is not open to tourists.
It is an uninhabited Island with no accommodation facilities. The
administration has proposed a five-star eco-tourism resort in Aves Island on
public-private partnership mode.
Aves Island is very near to Mayabunder
town. The presence of many natural features (live and dead coral flat beds,
coconut plantation, forest) and the pristine beach at Aves Island with a
coastline of 2 km, makes it an ideal destination for campers.
Trekking within the island through the
coconut plantations and tiny jungle trail takes the tourists to the lighthouse
on the southern point.
A land parcel of 2.75 hectares is owned
by the local administration, which will be handover to the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) on a lease basis
for the development of the project under Public-Private Partnership mode and on
a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
With an investment of approximately Rs
36 core, the five-star eco-tourism resort at Aves Island will have 50 rooms
where the concessionaire can undertake various activities like a shopping area
for local souvenirs, scuba diving, game fishing, forest trekking, nature
camping, wellness centre, etc.
ANIIDCO Managing Director Nandini
Paliwal said, “The Investor Conference organised by ANIIDCO in Delhi, on
December 4 for tourism and hospitality projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
has received a very encouraging response from leading hospitality players.
“We are confident that with the active
collaboration of the private sector, the projects proposed to be implemented in
PPP mode will succeed in bringing world-class sustainable tourism
infrastructure and put Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the global tourism
circuit. It will contribute to the socio-economic development of the islands
and its people.”
To bring the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
on the global tourist map, the administration has also prepared a Project
Information Memorandum (PIM), under the banner of “Development of Eco Tourism
Projects in Andaman Island-2023 for the holistic development of 14 more tourist
places, which includes Lalaji Bay beach at Long Island, Ross-Smith Island,
Shaheed Dweep spread across North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman.
To lure investors, ANIIDCO organised an
event in Delhi on December 4 to obtain feedback and suggestions from potential
investors for making the initiative for the “Development of Eco-Tourism
Projects in the Andaman Islands”.
Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands Admiral D K Joshi (Retd), and Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra were
present at the event.
The chief secretary highlighted various
initiatives taken by the administration for strengthening the infrastructure
related to connectivity, power, water supply, etc which will provide impetus to
the development of tourism in the Islands.
The prime objective of the projects is
to provide world-class and sustainable tourism infrastructure with low
environmental impact and provision for the socio-economic involvement of the
local population.
“We are optimistic that such an investor’s
meet will surely make this beautiful Island the most sought-after destination
for travellers and business leaders,” said Andaman Chamber of Commerce &
Industry president Surendra Prahladka.
PTI
