India has more than 1,300 off-shore identified islands including 289 points (rocks or rocky islets), the potential largely unexplored and untapped. The Government has proposed to develop a model for the holistic development of a few identified islands.The officials said that water villas and beach villages on a couple of islands were planned besides eco-cottages.Initially, in consultation with the UT Administrations, the concerned central ministries, departments and stakeholders, 10 islands– Aves, Long, Little Andaman, Smith and Ross in A&N and Bangaram, Cheriyam, Minicoy, Suheli and innakara in Lakshadweep– were identified for sustainable development. Subsequently, 17 more islands including12 in A&N and five in Lakshadweep) were selected under the initiative.In the last budget, the Centre had announced planned development of iconic tourist centres especially islands to boost tourism in collaboration with states through their marketing and branding at the international level. In her budget speech, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had indicated that the emphasis would be on port connectivity and sprucing up of tourism infrastructure and amenities on islands including Lakshadweep.The hospitality management institute, one each for A&N Islands and Lakshadweep was also recommended for training the islanders so that they could secure satisfactory jobs in tourism-based and other development projects, added officials.
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