Monday, August 1 2005 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: Undeterred by the last year Tsunami that claimed 10,000 lives, Andaman and Nicobar islands administration continues to hard sell the region's tourism, the mainstay of the islands economy.

The UT administration in Port Blair is contemplating opening up some new islands for tourists because some of the attractive tourist spots such as Covyn's Cove beach, Jollybuoy, Red Skin, Water Sport Complex have already been devoured by the devastating tsunami last year.

An Aitken Spence Hotels management team led by its managing director Malin Hapiguda was in the islands to explore the possibilities of developing and operating high value resorts which would cater to very high-end tourists even as the tremor measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale shook the islands on July 24.

The team members, impressed by the opportunities that the scenic Andamans offers, held a meeting with the Lt. Governor Ram Kapse, chief secretary D S Negi and other senior officers of the administration to give shape to their investment plans.

Earlier, the Indian Airlines had brought the second team of tour delegates to the islands within a span of one month to explore the post-tsunami tourism potential of the archipelago.

Enthused by the Andaman administration's response and determination to move ahead to revive the tourism, the team has gone back to bring back hordes of tourists to the islands, especially from West Bengal.

The coming to life of the sub-continent's lone live volcano at Barren Island, 149 kms north-west of Port Blair, on May 28 after remaining dormant for more than a decade came as a blessing in disguise for the sagging tourism in the islands.

Turning adversity into an opportunity, the UT administration has publicised the volcano eruption as a lifetime opportunity for tourists.

A special weekly sailing has been organized for a night journey to the lava-spewing volcano.

MV Harshvardhan took more than 500 students, tourists, scientists and media persons to the Barren island trip last month followed by another passenger ship MV Swarajdweep carrying more than 1000 defence personnel and their families.

While Andaman administration appears steadfast in its efforts to revive tourism, a large section of the industry seems despondent, President of Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Jadwet told sources that a booming tourism in the islands would take quite some time.

"The latest earthquake (on July 24) has certainly dealt a blow to the tourism activities which were gradually picking up.

"Normalcy was gradually being restored but it has received a setback, however, short-lived it might be, due to the fresh tremor. Not only tourism, all other business are going to be affected", Jadwet said.