Andaman & Nicobar Islands may keep losing tourists till new airport comes up: Administration
Image Credits - Andaman Island Travels
Indian carriers like Air India Express reportedly say they have to keep fares high as there is no knowing when the weather packs up over Sri Vijaya Puram, and flights are forced to return to the mainland.
Tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands may not reach its full potential for at least the next five years, following the government of India’s decision to shelve the proposed project to extend the runway of the Indian Navy’s air station INS Baaz at Campbell Bay to 10,000 feet.
According to sources in the Andaman and Nicobar Administration (ANA), the island chain is losing tourists to destinations such as Thailand, primarily due to high airfares and uncertainties regarding landings and takeoffs at Veer Savarkar Airport in Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair).
“We are now handling barely 60–65 per cent of the tourist traffic that can be sustainably accommodated in the Andamans. The airfare from a location like Kolkata hovers around INR 8,000 for a one-way economy class ticket. In comparison, the airfare from Kolkata to Bangkok is around INR 9,000–9,500. With Thailand offering visa on arrival, tourists obviously prefer a trip to the foreign destination, though there is more that the Andamans can offer,” an official said.
Indian carriers like Air India Express reportedly say they have to keep fares high as there is no knowing when the weather packs up over Sri Vijaya Puram, and flights are forced to return to the mainland.
The archipelago has no alternative airport where commercial jets can land. The 4,500 feet runway at INS Baaz is not adequate for Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s that domestic airlines operate between the mainland and the Andamans.
(Source - IANS)
