The authorities of the Andaman Islands seek to stimulate tourism
In an effort to stimulate tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the administration of the Union Territory decided to open the uninhabited island of Aves in the Northern and Middle Andaman District to travelers.
Aves Island, often called Coconut Island because of its lush green coconut plantation, currently remains closed to tourists due to lack of accommodation facilities. However, now the administration is striving to open this island to travelers and has put forward plans to create a five-star eco-tourist resort on the island of Aves through a public-private partnership.
Aves Island, located near the town of Mayabunder, is dotted with various natural attractions, including flat thickets of living and dead corals, coconut plantations, forests and an unspoilt beach with a 2 km coastline, making it an ideal place for vacationers.
Visitors can explore the island by walking through coconut plantations and small jungle trails that will lead them to the lighthouse at the southern point.
Part of the land with an area of 2.75 hectares is owned by the local administration, which will be leased to Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) for the development of the project.
This initiative, operating in a public-private partnership and on the basis of design-construction-financing- operation-transfer (DBFOT), will require an investment of about INR 36 crore to create a five-star eco-tourist resort with 50 rooms.
The reports add that the resort will offer various activities such as a shopping mall with local souvenirs, fishing, scuba diving, hiking in the woods, camping in nature and a wellness center.
ANIIDCO Managing Director Nandini Paliwal expressed confidence in the success of the project, noting that they received a positive response from leading players in the hospitality industry during the investor conference held in Delhi on December 4.
The initiative aims to position the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the global tourism network, which will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
To further enhance the attractiveness of the islands, the administration has prepared an Information Memorandum on the Project (PIM) entitled “Development of Ecotourism projects in the Andaman Islands – 2023”, which outlines plans for the integrated development of 14 additional tourist sites, including Lalaji Bay Beach in Long Island, Ross-Smith Island and Shahid Dwip via North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman.
