Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram): From a single-window tourism system and astro-tourism to Dark Sky certification, Blue Flag beaches and international surfing, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is widening its tourism portfolio beyond conventional beach tourism, with technology, adventure and sustainable experiences emerging as new focus areas.
The initiatives were highlighted by Tourism Secretary Vinayak Chamadia, at the Grand Finale of the week-long World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations at Corbyn’s Cove Beach on Sunday. A major proposed intervention is a Single Window System for tourism, which the Tourism Department expects to make operational within the next three to four months. The system is aimed at streamlining tourism-related bookings and services and addressing visitor-related difficulties at destinations such as Elephanta Beach, NSCB Island and North Bay.
The Administration is also expanding astro-tourism. Around 200 Astro Guides have already been trained, while a subsidy programme has been introduced to encourage tourists to use telescopes and experience stargazing. The next push is towards securing Dark Sky Certification for Chidiyatapu, Little Andaman, Baludera and Ramnagar, leveraging the Islands’ low light pollution and favourable conditions for astronomical observation.
The Tourism Department is simultaneously seeking to expand its Blue Flag beach footprint. With Radhanagar currently holding the certification, three more beaches are expected to secure the status by the end of the year, following which the Administration plans to seek certification for another 10 beaches.
Adventure tourism is another emerging focus. Following a national surfing competition in Little Andaman, a World Surfing League event has been sanctioned for March 2027, with more than 100 surfers from 27 countries expected to participate.
The initiatives were unveiled as the seven-day celebrations, held from September 21 to 27 on the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” concluded with sports, cultural performances and felicitation of participants.
The Grand Finale featured Beach Volleyball and Tug of War competitions, followed by performances by local artists. Winners of various competitions, including mobile-app development and tourism promotional reels, were also felicitated.
The DBRAIT team of Deepanjali Sarkar, T. Dinesh Kumar and Priti Toppo won the Mobile App Development Competition for “Dweep Vibes”, while Saurav of Bhatubasti topped the Reel Making Competition with “Journey to Diglipur”.
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The celebrations were organised by the Tourism Department in collaboration with tourism stakeholders and allied departments, signalling a broader attempt to position the Islands as a destination for digital, sustainable, experiential and adventure tourism.
