Port Blair, Dec. 28: During the opening ceremony of the Island Tourism Festival, the Member of Parliament for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma in his address proposed one more event like the Island Tourism Festival in the first few months of next year.

He highlighted the annual Island Tourism Festival's success, traditionally held in the last month of each year, and advocated for a parallel event like – the Monsoon Festival – during the first half of the year.

The Member of Parliament emphasized the potential of attracting tourists during the off-season, particularly the six-month stretch when Andaman experiences monsoons, while most of the parts in India witness the summer season. He underscored that promoting events like the Monsoon Festival could significantly boost tourism during this period.

Furthermore, he articulated that such initiatives could serve as a remedy for unemployment, providing job opportunities for the island's youth. He added that with the recent inauguration of the new Airport Terminal Building and ambitious plans to establish direct connections with other countries, he expressed optimism about reaching Andaman's tourism to unprecedented heights.

Acknowledging this proposition, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor during his address assured to organize one or two additional mega events, akin to the Island Tourism Festival, in the coming year.