Andaman tourism to be promoted for middle class

Port Blair, Feb 5: Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Island Lt Gen(Retd) Bhopinder Singh today said that Andaman Tourism should concentrate on the middle class tourists more than high value tourists.

''This should be done so that more and more people in Mainland India could visit these islands, which are considered as a pilgrimage of India's freedom struggle,'' Mr Singh, the newly appointed Lt Governor of the remote archipelago told reporters in Port Blair.

He said the model of tourism should be developed in a way so as to find employment for more youths and the tourism revenue earned may be utilised for various welfare measures in these island.

Surprisingly, the statement made by Mr Singh was in contrast with the year old tourism policy of Andaman and Nicobar tourism, which is always targeting for high value tourists.

''I am not against high value tourism,'' he, however clarified, ''but I want that those who build five star hotels in these islands should also contribute for the welfare of these remote islands,'' he added.

He said if profit earned from tourism remains among the islanders then only one can say that true tourism development have taken place in these islands.

''When I was attached to the Rastrapati Bhawan, I had visited many countries of the world but there is something very special about these islands,'' he said.

Andaman and Nicobar Tourism is a booming business since the past two years. Thousands visit the islands every day. Last year's local tourist arrival figure was recorded at nearly 1,20,000 tourists.

UNI