PORT BLAIR, India - India on Saturday said it will try to link Singapore and Thailand to the Andamans by air by March 2008 but added the archipelago needed a makeover to sell itself to tourists.

The announcement comes amid an unprecedented increase in the number of arrivals by low-budget domestic tourists to the Andamans, where most of the 36 inhabited islands are now partially open to visitors.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the Indian Ocean archipelago, mauled by the tsunami in 2004, could outshine destinations in Thailand and Singapore if it were refurbished.

"There is not much difference between Phuket, Bangkok and the Andamans but more tourism-related facilities are needed here," Patel said in capital Port Blair, which upgraded its airport to international standards six months ago.

Most European tourists to India avoid the island chain because of its remote location and due to the stifling presence of the Indian military.

"We now intend to link Andamans to Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand within six months by air and we are certain we can match their tourism industries," Patel said.

Five percent of 80,000 visitors to the Andamans so far in 2007 have been overseas holidaymakers. The modest target is 150,000 arrivals for the entire year.

Thailand expects nearly 15 million international tourists in 2007 while Singapore, which welcomed 9.7 million foreign tourists last year, hopes to see a growth of 7.5 percent during 2007, according to industry forecasts.

"Its achievable," the Indian minister said, but prodded the military to end its control over airports and sea lanes linking the isles that run from near Myanmar to close to Indonesia to the outside world.

The local tourism industry says visitors to the Andamans are low paid government workers, which harms the archipelago's image and damages its environment.

- AFP

If it really take off, Phuket and the other tourist islands of Thailand will feel the heat.

Edited September 8, 200718 yr by Thaising

Been there three times, the islands are beautiful and mostly unspoilt.

Been there three times, the islands are beautiful and mostly unspoilt.

But utterly boring !

Naka.

Been there three times, the islands are beautiful and mostly unspoilt.

But utterly boring !

Naka.

No it not, what a stupid thing to say......

Maybe your a boring person. Or you get bored easily.

The islands have some of the most unspoilt beaches and reefs to be found anywhere in the world.

I should imagine that gets quite a few people excited.

Lots of things to do there but just not as obvious as what you can do in say Phuket or Pattaya.

Longest I have stayed was 1 month and I was never bored.

They are the last unspoilt Islands on the planet that havent been touched by mass tourism, it is inevitable that the property developers will start knocking up breeze block property there sooner or later.

Being located only a few hours flying from India, China and Japan these Islands must have huge potential.

A few glossy brochures and tails of high capital growth, the punters will buy.

They are the last unspoilt Islands on the planet that havent been touched by mass tourism, it is inevitable that the property developers will start knocking up breeze block property there sooner or later.

Being located only a few hours flying from India, China and Japan these Islands must have huge potential.

A few glossy brochures and tails of high capital growth, the punters will buy.

That won't happen anytime soon. The Andaman islands are a Union Territory of India which affords them special protection. Foriegners are not allowed to own property in India and they are much stricter on this than the Thai's are. Being a union territory makes it highly unlikely property developers will be able to profit from holiday homes.

So there is potentially over a billion Indians that can buy, if you Google "Indian Property" and "Goa Property" you will see plenty of apartments and villas being sold to non India residents.

Once these flights start happening the people will need somewhere to stay, which will innevatibly lead to construction.

I may be cynical but some of these developers are so rich right now they can build where they like.