Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 September 2025
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands marked World Tourism Day 2025 with a vibrant series of activities organized by the Tourism Department, A&N Administration. Tourists were welcomed with traditional fanfare at VSI Airport, Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep, and other key locations across the Islands, joining in the celebrations with enthusiasm and sporting spirit. Major tourist destinations witnessed a surge of visitors from across the country, reflecting the growing appeal of the Islands.
In a bid to offer tourists a closer look at the Islands’ rich heritage, several museums, including the National Memorial Cellular Jail, Chatham Saw Mill, Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Museum, Fisheries Museum, and the Zoological Survey of India, were opened free of charge for visitors. The Tourism Department also conducted cleanliness drives at Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and other popular locations to promote sustainable tourism practices.
A highlight of the day was the innovative “Checkmate to Plastic” programme organized at New Wandoor Beach in collaboration with the Education Department. The initiative combined environmental awareness with the game of chess to encourage sustainability.
Around 100 school students from CRC Manglutan participated in the event, which began with a beach cleanliness drive emphasizing the importance of a plastic-free environment. This was followed by a spirited chess tournament featuring nearly 80 participants. The tournament was inaugurated by Ms. Deepa Nair, Principal of GSSS Manglutan, in the presence of Mr. Adir Das, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Wandoor, who served as the guest of honour.
In a closely contested event, P. Charvi secured first place, while G. Naveen and B. Kunal claimed the second and third positions, respectively. The winners were felicitated with trophies by the Pradhan.
The “Checkmate to Plastic” initiative successfully blended environmental consciousness with recreation, making this year’s World Tourism Day both engaging and meaningful for residents and visitors alike.
