Port Blair, Oct. 18: As the night sky above the Andaman archipelago twinkles with countless stars, a new frontier of tourism is taking shape — one that looks up rather than around. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, known for their turquoise waters and lush forests, are now setting their sights on the cosmos through Astro Tourism — an emerging niche that promises to add a celestial edge to the Islands’ tourism potential.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, a three-day ‘Astro Tourism Guide Training Programme’ on “Stargazing & Fundamentals of Astro Tourism” began today at the Disaster Management Department’s conference hall. Organized by the Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism in collaboration with Open Space Foundation, C-STERC Techno Science, Coimbatore, and ISRO Space Tutors, the programme aims to train local youth to become Astro Guides — the future ambassadors of the Islands’ starry skies.
Inaugurating the event, Vinayak Chamadia, Director (Tourism), highlighted that Astro Tourism is a rapidly growing global segment and that the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with their unpolluted skies and minimal light interference, are uniquely positioned to become one of India’s premier stargazing destinations. “By tapping into this potential, we are not only enriching the tourism experience but also opening new livelihood avenues for our local youth,” he said, urging participants to master both the science and storytelling of the night sky.
The Director further revealed that an ‘Astro Tourism Policy’ for the Islands has already been drafted, with efforts underway to form an Astro Tourism Community involving youth, local entrepreneurs, and eco-tourism operators. Integrating dark-sky preservation and community-led experiences, he said, would help align Astro Tourism with the broader goals of sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.
Currently, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Beodnabad, and Chidiyatapu have been identified as potential Astro Tourism hotspots, with more sites under consideration across the Islands. These spots offer ideal conditions for night-sky viewing, constellation mapping, and telescope-based celestial experiences, turning the Islands into an attraction not just for beach lovers but also for space and science enthusiasts.
The training sessions, led by Anupama Pradeepan and Bharat Kumar from Open Space Foundation and C-STERC, along with Shri Uday Bhasker, Founder of Andaman Stargazing, covered a wide range of topics — from the fundamentals of astronomy to telescope handling, dark-sky awareness, and Astro Tourism frameworks.
As Andaman’s tourism vision expands from its shores to its skies, this initiative marks the dawn of a new era — one where starlit nights could soon become as iconic as sun-kissed beaches, offering visitors an experience that’s truly out of this world.
