The Light of Andamans :: Issue 39 :: 15 Oct 2007*
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*SamirSpeak*

*Tourism Alternatives: Food for Thought*
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By Samir Acharya

Congrats! Chodhury
I admire and appreciate the bold and novel decision of our Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests, Mr. S.S. Choudhury to give independent charge of
some Forest Divisions to the senior and deserving officers of State Forest
Cadre. I believe that six posts of Division Heads have been earmarked for
SFC officers and appointments made.
We have always been supportive of the cause of the SFC officers because they
know the Island forests best. They have always served here and know these
forests intimately. Proposal after proposal to even create Forest
Sub-Divisions and putting the SFC officers (ACFs) as in-charge of the
Sub-Divisions under DFOs were turned down earlier. This is a very positive
step and will definitely improve the performance of the Forestry Sector.
The SFC officers must now take on their new responsibility seriously and
demonstrate their capability. They should know that no PCCF could be
successful without their service and support.
Three cheers for Mr. Chowdhury.

Food for thought - DR Tamta
Tourism, instead of bringing a boon to the Islands, has actually brought a
curse on the Islanders. In recent times the accumulated anger of the
Islanders and even the Tour Operators have been vented a number of times in
the local media. Yes, I am talking about the curse of LTC tourists, whose
only contribution to the Islands is bringing scarcity of water, inter-island
boat tickets, Island-mainland ship tickets and even air-tickets for the
localities. What makes it worse and intolerable is that it is totally
state-funded. It is a creature of the bureaucracy-business nexus, at its
worst. One hopes that the local voices are heard in the corridors of power
in Delhi.
The Establishment frequently blames the Activists and NGOs for criticizing
and failing to offer an alternative. Well, let me try to do this.
Since tourism industry in the Islands must follow the limitations imposed by
our carrying capacity, we must limit the volume. Since revenue earning needs
drastic improvement, we need high value. In other words we need a relatively
small number of tourists to spend a relatively high amount of money. Here is
an example.
Sport fishing is very popular and is gaining more and more popularity in the
affluent countries. It not only offers an exotic locale and exposure to
exotic species, but also throws in some vigorous outdoor activities with a
flavour of adventure thrown in. There are only two operators in the Islands
now, soon to be three, I gather. The operators bring in groups, mostly
from Europe now, for sport fishing in Andaman waters.
The duration of a tour is six days and a tourist pays 1500 Euros for a trip.
So, a tourist pays 250 Euros (Rs. 13,710/-@ 55/-per Euro) per day. Not a
bad earning per capita at all. All the operator needs is a seaworthy boat,
say between 22 to 36 feet fitted with an engine between 150 to 400 HP, so
that the boat can attain a speed of 20 to 25 knots. The boat can carry
between 6 to 10 tourists at a time for longer voyages. Most sport-fishers
bring with them their own fishing gear. But they should be able to hire it
locally. They catch groupers, snappers and even a tuna if they are lucky.
Some fishers will have the fish for dinner. If they catch many, they
sometimes just take a photograph and then release the fish. Such activities
leave very small footprints and are, therefore, the most preferable model of
tourism.
Since this model of tourism is absolutely seasonal, an operator with a
single boat can cater to, perhaps 150 to 250 tourists, easily, earning
between 37,000 to 50,000 Euros (20 Lakhs to 27 lakh rupees) per year, given
the local constraints.
Ideally, there could be four zones in Andamans; North, Middle, South
Andamans and Ritchie's Archipelago. Each zone can comfortably support
3--4 operators to begin with, catering to 1800 to 3000 tourists per year,
and earning a revenue of three to four crores per year, assuming each
operator operates only one boat. Actually, each operator should have 4-6
boats in operation. That way, the turn over would be in excess of 20
crores.
What needs to be done to encourage this model?
a) Since the foreigners are not permitted any night halts in most places,
the groups needs to come back everyday from the fishing spot and go back
again the next day. If certain convenient locations are earmarked as camping
sites for sport fishers, it will save them a lot of time and travel and make
the package more attractive.
b) It will help some local entrepreneurs to provide camp/tent
accommodation, sanitary facilities and victualling. Some local employment
will be generated and the community hosting/near hosting in the sports
fishers will stand to gain.
c) A local entrepreneur could set up a small facility for re-fuelling the
boats at the required spots to save the operators the burden of carrying
fuel for the return sailing too.
d) We need clear and user-friendly rules for registration of operators and
boats. Now there seems to be a lot of confusion.
e) Since sport-fishing like diving is an eco-tourism activity, the operators
can tie-up with the Forest Department to identify camping sites. The Lt.
Governor could be approached for permission for this class of tourists to
night-halt at designated campsites.
f) The Tourism Department could approach our Polytechnic for a module of
training in sport fishing venture operator for local interested youth.
g) With time, when tourist flow increases, a shop selling fishing gear at
the Port Blair and a few near the jetties/camp sites selling live baits
would be viable.
h) Soon, the campsites will start attracting bird and butterfly
watchers also.
I shall look forward to the day when this become a reality. Till then, LTC
tourism Murdabad must remain our slogan.
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