Sri Vijaya Puram, October 16: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has set January 2027 as the target for implementing a Single Window Booking System aimed at bringing tourism-related services across the Islands onto a unified digital platform.
The proposed system is expected to enable tourists to access multiple services, including entry permits, boat tickets, water sports and other tourism-related facilities, through a single point of booking. The initiative was discussed during a high-level review meeting on the functioning of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Ltd. (ANIIDCO) and the Tourism Department, chaired by Lt. Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma at Lok Niwas on Thursday.
The review focused on the progress of tourism projects across the Islands and the need to make services more convenient, accessible and tourist-friendly. The Lt. Governor directed the concerned officials to ensure that the integrated booking system is implemented by the stipulated deadline.
The proposed platform is intended to simplify the process of planning visits to different tourist destinations by reducing the need to approach separate service providers or booking channels for different activities. By bringing several services under one system, the Administration aims to make tourism-related transactions more convenient and transparent for visitors.
The initiative is also expected to benefit local businesses operating in the tourism sector. According to the Administration, the integrated platform would directly benefit water sports operators, boat operators and other tourism-related service providers by improving access to services and giving fresh impetus to tourism activities across the Islands.
The meeting reviewed the functioning of ANIIDCO and the Tourism Department, both of which are involved in tourism development and related activities in the Union Territory. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Gyanesh Bharti and the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Tourism), attended the meeting.
While the Administration has announced January 2027 as the implementation target, details regarding the platform’s technical framework, participating service providers, booking procedures, payment facilities and operational arrangements have not yet been specified.
The proposed system comes amid efforts to make the Islands’ tourism services easier to navigate for visitors. The availability of entry permits, transport-related bookings and recreational activities through a common digital interface could help tourists coordinate different aspects of their trips more efficiently.
For local operators, the extent of the system’s benefits will depend on how service providers are incorporated into the platform and how bookings are managed. A unified system could provide a common access point for tourists seeking authorised services, while also making it easier for participating operators to reach potential customers.
The implementation timeline will require coordination between the Tourism Department, ANIIDCO and other agencies responsible for the services proposed to be integrated. The effectiveness of the platform will ultimately depend on the range of services covered, the accuracy of booking information and the ease with which tourists and local operators can use it.
The Lt. Governor emphasised that the initiative should improve convenience and transparency for tourists while supporting businesses associated with the Islands’ tourism economy.
With January 2027 set as the target, the next phase will involve translating the proposed single-window approach into an operational system capable of connecting tourism services across the archipelago. The Administration has not announced further implementation details.
