Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 30 September 2025
The Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism (IP&T), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, has released the Draft Beach Tourism Policy-2025 and Beach Tourism Guidelines-2025 for public consultation. The move aims to ensure sustainable management of the Islands’ pristine beaches and rich biodiversity.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to 836 islands of which only 31 are inhabited, feature a unique blend of tropical rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. With a 1,962-kilometre coastline, the archipelago boasts some of the most ecologically sensitive and visually spectacular beaches globally.
In recent years, tourism—especially beach tourism—has surged, bringing economic opportunities but also environmental pressures. Unregulated tourism can threaten coastal and marine ecosystems, calling for proactive measures to safeguard the Islands’ natural heritage.
The draft policy focuses on sustainable and inclusive tourism, emphasizing conservation, community empowerment, and responsible practices. With most beaches located in reserve forests and protected areas, the guidelines seek to balance tourism development with ecological protection, ensuring the Islands’ beaches remain vibrant for future generations.
The drafts are now available for public scrutiny on the IP&T official website: https://tourism.andamantourism.gov.in. Suggestions, comments, and inputs from the general public, tourism stakeholders, and government departments can be submitted in writing to the Director (IP&T), Kamaraj Road, Sri Vijaya Puram, or via email at thedirectortourism@gmail.com. The public consultation period runs from 30 September to 30 October 2025.
