Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 14 February 2022
The tourism industry of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is already suffering for the last two years because of the restrictions imposed to control the spread of COVID-19. The industry is up for another hit, as the only runway of Veer Savarkar International Airport is expected to be closed for some maintenance work for four days a week, in March, April and May.
Many airlines have already started reflecting flights on only three days a week (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) starting March 2022, to and from Port Blair.
Tourism sector is the largest private-sector employer in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and it is also considered the backbone of the economy of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Thousands of people are directly employed in the tourism sector and thousands of others indirectly depend on the tourism sector to earn a living. The worst-hit sector during the COVID-19 was expected to recover fast as all restrictions had been lifted in the South Andaman district.
Closure of the only runway of Veer Savarkar International Airport for four days a week will again lead to indirect closure of tourism in the Islands and will in turn lead to an increase in unemployment in the Islands.
Most youngsters in the Islands have started their ventures in the field of tourism and have taken loans from the banks. Many of these young entrepreneurs have been facing several difficulties in paying back their loans because of the closure of the tourism sector multiple times, during the last two years. Closure of the airport runway will only add to their problems.
Further, Veer Savarkar International Airport is the gateway of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, apart from tourists the general public will also face problems. The residents of the Islands are heavily dependent on medical services at hospitals in Chennai, Kolkata and other cities because of the unavailability of advanced healthcare in the Islands and closure of the airport at Port Blair for four days a week, for three months will add to the inconvenience that Islanders have to go through, in their day to day life.
Veer Savarkar International Airport is a dual-use airport that is used for both defence and civilian purposes. The NOTAM issued for closure of airport runway for four days a week in March, April and May 2022 is said to be issued by the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Andaman Association of Tour Operators has written a letter explaining the situation to the Hon’ble Defence Minister, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs and Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation. In their letter, the President of AATO has requested the dignitaries to reconsider the decision of closing the runway for four days a week for three months and requested them to ensure that the runway remains operational for at-least eight hours every day.
Hoteliers Association of A & N Islands has also written a letter to the Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi requesting him to take up the matter with different Ministries of the Govt. of India.