New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) To promote eco-friendly tourism, the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) government has decided to develop 36 beach sites on the islands.
“Action has been taken to develop three sites in outer islands - Hut Bay, Neil island and Lalji Bay under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode,” Lt. Gen. (retired) Bhopinder Singh, the lieutenant governor of the union territory, said in an official statement here.

He also announced setting up of the country’s first ever marina in A&N islands.

“The islands administration has started some unique projects like introduction of seaplane service launched for the first time in India. The administration will set up canopy walkways, luxury cottages, and procure luxury boats to attract high-end tourists. Plans are afoot to start more sound and light shows and setting up de-compressions chambers for scuba drivers in the islands in the near future,” he said.

Singh informed that ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) has submitted a detailed project report to connect Port Blair-Havelock-Baratang islands, work on which will start next year.

Singh said a comprehensive tourism policy has been formulated with detailed deliberations from local tourism industries, entrepreneurs, academicians and other stake holders.

“Annual tourist arrivals increased to 130,000 in September 2009 as compared to 33,716 tourist arrivals recorded in 1990,” he added and exhorted people to visit the islands.

The Andamans are a group of 572 islands, inhabited and uninhabited, in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.