Port Blair, Aug. 31: The Association of Tour Operators (ATO) has raised serious concern over insufficient infrastructure like boat services and tourist vehicles, which is likely to affect in the upcoming tourist season.

Addressing the Lt. Governor in a letter, the President, ATO, M. Vinod while expressing his gratitude for promoting A&N Islands during IATO Convention held at New Delhi recently, explained that there is acute shortage of boats to cater to the tourist needs during the upcoming season. 

Vinod mentioned that on an average the Islands expect to receive around 900 tourists per day during the season to commence from Sept. 1, 2014. The boats presently deployed in Havelock, Ross, North Bay and Jolly Buoy are insufficient and there is great demand to increase the number of boats.

To overcome the crisis, the President has suggested providing of one extra Govt. boat to Havelock making it two boats with 145 passenger capacity. He also suggested introducing two smaller boats like MV Lawrence for Ross trips as was done earlier and to increase the number of trips of existing boats without disturbing the safety norms in place.   

The ATO has also expressed concern over shortage of Tourist Vehicles at Havelock. Since Havelock has become a major Tourist Destination, every visiting tourist wants to visit Havelock. Havelock is a small Island there has been always a shortage of Tourist vehicles during the season. Since the State Transport Authority has stopped the process of issuing fresh permits to Tourist vehicles for ply in Havelock, there will be a great shortage of vehicles this season, the President ATO said.

It was also suggested to the Lt. Governor that for a speedy survey of tourist boats as the concerned agencies have cleared only two boats in a period of 8 months for plying between Ross & North Bay Island.