Port Blair Oct 28: From pristine beaches to deep-sea ports, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are charting a bold course to emerge as India’s next big maritime and tourism hub in the Indo-Pacific. As per an official account, The Union Territory is gearing up for a major transformation, aiming to harness their full maritime and tourism potential under the national Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. This vision was showcased during a special session on the Islands held in Mumbai as part of India Maritime Week 2025, in the presence of Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retd.), Lieutenant Governor of the A&N Islands and other senior officers representing the UT.
The session focused on unlocking opportunities in maritime tourism, shipping, fisheries, and shipbuilding, positioning the Islands as a strategic maritime and logistics hub linking India to Southeast Asia.
Maritime Tourism: Unlocking Blue Horizons
The Administration unveiled a comprehensive plan to tap the region’s vast maritime tourism potential through cruise, yacht, and adventure tourism.
New cruise circuits connecting Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Barren Island, Little Andaman, and the Nicobar group are being developed, supported by seaplane connectivity to enhance inter-island access.
The Islands’ globally acclaimed dive sites—South Button, Dixon’s Pinnacle, and Jackson Bar—are being developed to meet international diving standards, alongside plans for Underwater Maritime Heritage Parks around WWII shipwrecks. A Houseboat Tourism Policy, eco-resorts, and plans for three Guinness World Record events in 2026 further reinforce the Islands’ emergence as a world-class, sustainable tourism destination.
Major Infrastructure Push: A series of ambitious maritime infrastructure projects are underway to position the archipelago as a central player in India’s eastern maritime frontier: The International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay will serve as a high-capacity regional hub near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
A Deep-water Port project at Atlanta Bay, Diglipur is being developed for shipbuilding, ship repair, and cargo operations, leveraging the area’s natural depth to reduce infrastructure costs.
The Water Metro Project at Sri Vijaya Puram, in collaboration with the Kochi Water Metro, aims to improve urban-island connectivity and reduce road congestion.
Plans for a Yacht Marina at Mitha Khadi (Sri Vijaya Puram) and another at Campbell Bay are in motion to attract luxury yachts traversing the Indo-Pacific corridor.
These developments are expected to create new avenues for employment, investment, and private participation in the maritime sector, while promoting eco-conscious tourism and transport.
Fisheries and the Blue Economy: The Islands are also advancing toward a robust Blue Economy through projects in Commercial Mariculture, Tuna Cluster development, and Brackish-water Aquaculture. An Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder and initiatives for open-sea cage culture, seaweed cultivation, and pearl farming are being rolled out to enhance marine productivity and investor engagement.
Gateway to the Indo-Pacific: Eleven routes within the Islands are being declared National Waterways to boost multimodal logistics. A proposed Centre of Excellence for Maritime Training will strengthen local manpower, while digital connectivity through the Chennai–Andaman Submarine Cable will modernize vessel communication.
With its deep natural harbours and strategic Indo-Pacific location, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are steering steadily toward becoming India’s maritime gateway to the East — a place where natural beauty meets global opportunity.
