Three prominent hospitality groups have secured bids to develop luxury, eco-friendly tourism resorts at Long Island, Aves Island, and Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to an official statement.
In addition, another hospitality group has won the bid to redevelop the existing Megapode Resort in Sri Vijaya Puram under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) has finalised three proposals for the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) of five-star eco-tourism resorts on a PPP basis across these prime island locations.
Highlighting the significance of the development, an official said, “In a major stride toward sustainable tourism-led growth, we have finalised successful tenders for four flagship ecotourism projects across the Islands. Three hospitality groups/investors have won the bid to build three luxury eco-friendly tourism resorts at Long Island, Aves Island, and Shaheed Dweep. Letters of Award for the development of ecotourism resorts have been issued. We also got one of the highest bidders to develop the existing Megapode Resort in Sri Vijaya Puram on PPP mode.”
Further detailing the concession framework, the official added, “In addition to the annual concession fee, concessionaires will share revenue at the rates of 3.6 per cent for Megapode Resort, 3 per cent for Shaheed Dweep, and 2 per cent each for Long Island and Aves Island. The concession period is 50 years for Megapode Resort and 75 years for the other projects, including construction time.”
At the same time, the administration has placed sustainability at the core of these developments. Emphasising the long-term vision, the official said, “Our aim is the archipelago as a premier global destination for responsible, nature-centric tourism. These projects are designed to meet international sustainability standards, including LEED, GRIHA, and Green Globe certifications, and comply fully with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and environmental norms.”
Accordingly, each resort will follow low-impact architectural principles and operate on self-sustaining systems, primarily powered by renewable energy sources such as solar installations. As a result, the projects aim to ensure minimal ecological impact while blending seamlessly with the islands’ natural ecosystems.
Notably, Aves Island, one of the four locations, is currently uninhabited. This marks one of the rare instances in recent decades where the local administration has opened an uninhabited island for tourism development. Also known as Coconut Island due to its dense coconut plantations, Aves has so far remained closed to tourists and lacks any accommodation infrastructure. However, the proposed five-star eco-tourism resort is expected to position Aves as one of the most sought-after destinations after Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island).
With an investment of nearly ₹36 crore, the proposed five-star eco-tourism resort at Aves Island will span 2.75 hectares and feature 50 rooms. Moreover, the concessionaire will offer curated activities such as local souvenir shopping, scuba diving, game fishing, forest trekking, nature camping, and wellness experiences.
Meanwhile, the resort planned at Long Island, part of an overall investment of approximately ₹391 crore across five-star ecotourism projects, will offer up to 220 rooms. Similarly, the resort at Shaheed Dweep, with a projected investment of around ₹172 crore, will feature 120 rooms, further expanding the region’s premium hospitality capacity.
