Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 March 2025
The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO), in collaboration with India Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, organized a heritage tour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island (formerly Ross Island) for the BBA (Tourism) students of Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) on 27th March 2025. The initiative was part of an ongoing industry-academia collaboration aimed at providing students with hands-on exposure to heritage tourism.
The tour was conducted under the supervision of Mr. M. Vinod, President, AATO, and Mr. Mohd. Sajid, senior member of AATO. Ms. Anuradha Rao, an official guide of NSCB Island, led the heritage walk, narrating the island’s rich colonial history, the significance of its architectural remnants, and the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose associated with the island.
Mr. N. Velmurugan, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, graced the occasion and lauded the initiative. He emphasized the importance of introducing students to heritage sites and encouraged more such interactive learning experiences supported by the Ministry of Tourism.
Addressing the students, Mr. M. Vinod highlighted the pivotal role of heritage tourism in the Andaman Islands and underscored the need for aspiring tourism professionals to develop a deep understanding of local history and heritage to promote responsible tourism. Mr. Ajit Thangachan further enriched the session by sharing practical insights on the importance of preserving heritage sites and the role of tourism operators in delivering meaningful heritage-based experiences.
The heritage tour proved to be a valuable learning experience, seamlessly blending classroom knowledge with real-world exposure. The students expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, acknowledging the tour’s impact in enhancing their understanding of heritage tourism and its potential in promoting sustainable tourism practices.