Friday, December 23 2005 14:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: For the first time in the history of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the archipelago administration is opening up 10 beautiful islands floating in splendid isolation in the Indian Ocean to private tourism.

The tsunami-battered economy of the 572-island conglomerate, only about 30 of which are inhabited, is expected to get a fresh lease of life when international tour operators spice the virgin beaches up with scuba diving, snorkelling and island camping activities.

Fringed with coconut palms and azure beaches, the 10 emerald islands, Havelock, Neil, Long Island, North Passage and South Passage, Cinque, the twin islands of Ross and Smith separated by a spectacular sand bar, little Andaman, Rutland and the queer sounding Interview, are already being eyed by private international operators.

"Parts of some of these islands were already open to private tourism. But now the entire portion of these islands would be accessible as also a couple of virgin ones," says Chief Secretary of the islands D S Negi.

Tie proposal by the local administration was being consulted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and go-ahead was expected very soon, he said.

As news of the opening of 10 islands got around, the administration had been flooded by queries from a host of international tour operators longing to set up base in the untapped territory for years now.

Singapore-based operators, including Star Cruise and MNC groups from Sri Lanka have already sought permission to work out of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Only one international group, Barefoot, has been operating from here presently, besides a number of domestic players.

"We are looking at a larger canvas of foreign investors and high-end international tourists. Post-tsunami we want to plan big and really go all out to resurrect the island economy," Negi says.

Tourism, unlike other revenue earning sectors, had not taken a beating after tsunami, he says. "Our tourist arrivals before tsunami was 1.1 lakh and despite a slump after the disaster, we have already crossed 96,000 this year."

The market would be opened up for water sports, resorts, boat services and a whole gamut of tourism activity required to lure international tourists, he said.

From the rare corals and under-water marine life in the tropical rain forest island Cinque, declared as a sanctuary, to the vegetable bowl Neil and the dolphin haven of Long Island all will have would class facilities once the gates are opened he says.