Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 20: Tourism businesses, homestay operators and aspiring astro-tourism entrepreneurs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can now seek financial and capacity-building support under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Tourism Interventions 2026-27, while eligible sportspersons and adventure enthusiasts from the Islands have been invited to nominate themselves for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2025.
The Directorate of Tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has invited applications from eligible MSMEs, homestay owners and staff, and individuals for two interventions notified under Notification No. 242/2026 dated August 5, 2026, published in the A&N Gazette (Extraordinary) No. 243 and the Daily Telegrams on August 6.
The first intervention covers training, certification and exposure programmes for homestay staff aimed at promoting quality and sustainable tourism in the Islands. Under the programme, homestay operators and staff can participate in training programmes and exposure visits to top-performing homestays organised by the Tourism Department.
The second intervention focuses on promoting astro-tourism through MSME support for the purchase of astro-tourism equipment. Selected beneficiaries can procure the required equipment, including telescopes, and submit claims for reimbursement of the applicable subsidy.
The prescribed application forms, document requirements and detailed guidelines are available through the e-Gazette portal under Gazette No. 243 dated August 5, 2026.
To assist prospective beneficiaries with the application process, the Tourism Department will organise a registration and facilitation camp. Interested beneficiaries must submit their expression of interest or willingness to participate in the prescribed format to the Planning Section of the Directorate of Tourism, A&N Administration, by August 25, 2026, at 5 pm.
Separately, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has invited nominations for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards (TNNAA) 2025, which recognise outstanding achievements in adventure activities.
The awards cover achievements in adventure activities on land, at sea and in the air and also include a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of adventure.
Eligible sportspersons and individuals associated with adventure activities from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can submit nominations through the Common Awards Portal. The nomination window opened on July 21 and closes on August 20, 2026.
The Ministry has specified that nominations will be accepted only through the Common Awards Portal and that offline applications will not be entertained. Applicants have been advised to follow the prescribed eligibility criteria and guidelines available on the portal.
The two initiatives provide separate opportunities for tourism-sector beneficiaries and individuals associated with adventure activities in the Islands, with the RAMP interventions focused on tourism capacity and infrastructure support and the national awards recognising achievements in adventure.
