Lakshadweep Tourism Dept plans Rs 806 crore projects to position it as a visible global brand

Lakshadweep Tourism Department has planned Rs 806 crore projects as part of positioning it as a visible global brand in Tourism. Under the aegis of NITI Aayog, Lakshadweep Tourism Department has been pursuing to develop high end eco- tourism projects at Kadmat, Minicoy and Suheli Islands through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, sources said on Sunday. For the tourism projects, the department has identified 8.53 hectare of land in Minicoy, 5.55 hectare in Kadmat and 3.82 hectare in Suheli for building resorts, where land will be given for 75 years of lease period for investors. Projects worth Rs 319 crore will come up in Minicoy, Rs 240 crore in Kadmat and Rs 247 crore in Suheli. Uniqueness of the eco-tourism programme is that the first ever 'Water-Villa' projects in India will come up in Lakshadweep, which is also one of the best destinations for Scuba diving and other Water Sports in India. A total of 145 Beach Villas and 125 Water Villas will be the major attractions of the three islands. At present, tourism activity is restricted to only government operations and also entry permit (travel manifest) is mandatory for all the tourists. There are only five resorts in the islands out of which Bangaram Resort is well known in the country. In 2019-20 about 8489 tourists had visited Lakshadweep. Only 4, 3 and 2 firms have applied respectively for the eco-tourism projects at Suheli, Kadmat and Minicoy islands, out of which only two firms are qualified each for the Suheli and Kadmat projects and no firm have qualified for Minicoy project.