An Andaman Tourism delegation actively participated in a national stakeholders consultation organised by the Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi on September 10, 2025, as part of the effort to develop 50 world-class tourist destinations across India. The day-long event at Hotel The Ashok brought together nearly 200 representatives from States, Union Territories, industry leaders, and investors to design a roadmap for building global-standard tourism hubs.
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands delegation was led by Chanchal Yadav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Tourism), A&N Administration, accompanied by Vinod Kumar Yadav, DRC, Andaman Bhawan, and Mohan Vinod, President of the Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO). The deliberations at the consultation revolved around private sector-led tourism hub development, a production-linked incentive-based Destination Maturity Model, and frameworks for sustainable, world-class tourism projects. The outcomes of the discussions are expected to guide the final design and rollout of new schemes for India’s tourism sector.
Speaking during the conference, AATO President Mohan Vinod highlighted key priorities for strengthening the Andaman tourism profile. He stressed the need for increasing the number of aircrafts, introducing international connectivity, creating a single-window clearance mechanism for tourism-related projects, and ensuring the inclusion of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Ministry’s promotional campaigns. According to him, these measures would play a vital role in positioning the Andamans as a prime destination for both domestic and international travellers.
Mohan Vinod also conveyed gratitude to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and the Department of Tourism for facilitating the participation of AATO in such an important national platform. He said that the insights gained and recommendations shared would help drive the development of “Destination Andaman” in both domestic and global markets.
The consultation marked another step in the Union government’s vision of elevating Indian tourism to global benchmarks, while also offering an opportunity for regions like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to push for greater visibility, connectivity, and investment support.
