Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 07 December 2025
India Tourism, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), organised a one-day Emergency Response Training Programme at the Panchayat Hall, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep.
The programme was aimed at improving preparedness and response skills among frontline tourism professionals, particularly those involved in marine and adventure activities. Around 50 participants attended the session, including police personnel, boat operators, scuba diving instructors, parasailing staff, hotel personnel and other field-level tourism workers.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Vel Murugan, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Port Blair, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing safety standards and developing a professionally trained tourism workforce across the islands.
Mr. Saikat Biswas, Co-Chairman (Eastern Region), ATOAI, stressed the importance of such training in the Andaman Islands, citing challenges such as limited medical facilities and delayed evacuation during emergencies. He also extended gratitude to Dive India for on-ground support and to Nautika for their role as the travel partner for the event.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Freston Marc Sirur, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. The session focused on CPR, drowning response, trauma care, crisis communication and practical demonstrations tailored to the unique environmental conditions of the islands.
Participants welcomed the hands-on approach and shared that regular refresher programmes would be beneficial in further strengthening safety systems within the tourism sector.
India Tourism and ATOAI reaffirmed their commitment to supporting capacity-building and safety-focused initiatives to ensure responsible and secure tourism across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. (Story Based on PR)
