Tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands witnessed a noticeable dip in November 2025, with industry stakeholders pointing to persistently high airfares as the primary reason for the slowdown. However, despite the muted first half of the season, December is now showing signs of recovery, thanks to a series of targeted initiatives rolled out by the administration to boost visitor inflow and diversify tourism experiences.
According to official data, tourist arrivals over the past three years have shown major fluctuations. The islands recorded 235,061 domestic and 4,461 foreign arrivals in 2022. Numbers improved in 2023, with 323,619 domestic visitors and 9,025 foreign tourists. In 2024, arrivals rose sharply to 710,397 domestic and 11,497 foreign tourists. But operators say that this steady upward trajectory has not held in 2025, with November witnessing one of the slowest starts to the season, largely due to steep airfare deterring domestic travellers.
Local tour operators told The Wave Andaman that connectivity is no longer the concern, airlines now operate more frequent routes, but the cost remains a major deterrent. One operator from Sri Vijaya Puram said that while flights are available, “the cost of travel remains unaffordable for many domestic tourists, and steep fares have discouraged them from choosing the islands.” Operators reported fewer advance bookings, shorter stays, and shifting preferences toward more affordable international destinations such as Thailand and Bali.
The slowdown, especially visible in November’s turnout, has directly affected local livelihoods. Tourism continues to be one of the most critical sectors of the Andaman economy, supporting boat operators, taxi drivers, guides, hoteliers, and small enterprises. Many service providers reported reduced income and inconsistent work during the month. “Earlier, we had back-to-back bookings for taxis. Now, we get a few customers a week,” another operator from Sri Vijaya Puram said, reflecting growing distress.
However, December has begun on a more encouraging note, with hoteliers, boat operators, and tour planners reporting a gradual improvement in bookings. Industry members attribute this early recovery to the administration’s recent efforts, including enhanced digital outreach, new experiential tourism programmes, adventure tourism promotions, and revitalised heritage circuits. These measures, rolled out towards the end of November, appear to be drawing more interest from travellers planning year-end holidays.
Officials from the Tourism Department remain optimistic that these initiatives will help balance the impact of high airfare and bring both domestic and international footfall back on track. They emphasise that ongoing infrastructure upgrades and long-term tourism development plans will continue to strengthen the sector’s resilience.
While stakeholders still insist that airfare stabilisation is crucial for sustained growth, the renewed momentum seen in December has provided a much-needed boost. As the islands work to expand their tourism offerings and improve visibility, industry voices are hopeful that the positive trend will continue into the peak season, helping offset the setbacks seen in November.
