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The Tourism sector is one of the newly developed sector in Lakshadweep. From 1956 to 1962 there
was no ship nor any mechanized vessels operating between the Islands and mainland to carry
even the local passengers. It was in the year 1962 that a small ship 'M.V. Sea fox' having
a capacity to carry just 12 pax was introduced. There was no building nor any infrastructure
available to carryout tourism activities in this Union Territory. In the year 1974 a full
fledged all-weather ship. M.V. Amindivi , joined the fleet changed the very face of journey
in the Islands. This was the first all weather ship and was a great relief that prior to
Amindivi very small ships including M.V. Laccadives having capacity to carry 47 pax was not sufficient
for the movement of passengers. The coming of Amindivi and two all weather ships M.V.
Bharatseema and M.V. TipuSultan during 1988 created a favourable condition for the movement
of tourists. Two small ships M.V. Minicoy & M.V. Amindivi joined the fleet recently
has helped the movement of tourists further.
Tourism is one of the few areas in Lakshadweep which can play a vital role in generating
income, employment and over all development of islands. Recognizing vast tourism potential,
a humble beginning was made in 1974 and one of the uninhabited island Bangaram was opened
for International Tourism. The Hotel Corporation of India was looking after the affairs of
Bangaram island resort up to 1982. The tourists on those days were coming by ship Amindivi.
During 1978-tourists came by chartered ship 'M.S. Europa'. But in the absence of a permanent
set up, the flow of tourists were not encouraging. After the Hotel Corporation of India wound
up their business the SPORTS was directly dealing with the tourist activities both Indian
and foreign. The Casino Group of hotels, Cochin entered the field of Lakshadweep Tourism through
a lease deed dated 22nd October 1988 with SPORTS for operating the Bangaram Island Resort.
Encouraged by the Bangaram experiment, the Lakshadweep administration has gone ahead
with Tourism promotion in the Islands of Kavaratti, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Minicoy were opened for
domestic tourists in 1983.