If you are planning for an Andaman trip with your family and friend then you must know the SOP Andaman Islands COVID-19 Guidelines For Tourists Arriving at Port Blair 2021-2022 at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Andaman.

Cellular Jail

Post Covid-19 Andaman Islands Tourism Guidelines 2021-2022

1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for the RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September 2021, the sample for the RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August 2021)

2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatorily Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel's rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case to case basis. Other guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the airport (available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in and SOP) issued by the Airport Manager, VSI also need to follow.

3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on a payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.

In case tourist tests Positive for COVID-19 during the stay:
4. If the tourist tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The cost of such isolation for govt. the facility will be paid for by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.

5. If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if al the conditions below are met:

Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
Request/ undertaking is made by the patient in writing.
if allowed by doctors.

6. Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.

For travel to North & Middle Andaman District:

7. The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman subject to compulsory RAT testing for Andaman Trunk Road commuters which will be carried out at Forest check

Who Travel to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) & Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep):

Those who wish to travel to Swaraj Deep (Havelock) & Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) do not require the test again if he/she carrying the COVID-19 RTPCR/TNT Test Negative report which is done either Port Blair Airport/ICMR approved lab in the mainland.
However, If in case any symptoms are developed during the trip, the tourists are requested to inform immediately to the nearest PHC/CHC. After that necessary steps will be taken as prescribed by Doctor.
Till North and The Middle Andaman Islands, Nicobar group of islands and Little Andaman Island is not permitted for tourism activities till further next orders.

If Tourist tests got Positive for COVID-19 on arrival or during the stay

If tourist tests got Positive for COVID-19 on arrival at Port Blair Airport, then COVID-19 protocols will be followed. The institutional isolation facility (ITI Dollygunj COVID Ward) cost paid by the tourist/travellers which is Rs.1000/-
However, if the tourist/travellers want to stay at hotels instead of ITI Dollygunj COVID-19 Ward he/she can stay in the hotel but if all the conditions below are met:

Patients should be asymptomatic and age not be more than 60 years old.
Request/undertaking is made by a patient in writing.
If allowed by doctors.

Hotels will make necessary arrangement to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.

Activities Open/Closed for the Tourist arriving in Andaman 2020-2021

Place	Activities	Name of Activities	Closed/Open	Remarks
Port Blair	Museums	Cellular Jail	Open
		Anthropological Museum	Open
		Chatham Saw Mill	Open
		Naval Marine Museum	Open
		Sound & Light Show	Open	50% Seating Capacity Only
		Sound and Light Show at Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island	Open	50% Seating Capacity Only

Place	Activities	Name of Activities	Closed/Open	Remarks
South Andaman Middle Andaman North Andaman	Beaches & Islands Hooping	Corbyn’s Beach	Open
		Ross & North Bay	Open	50% Seating Capacity in Boat
		Wandoor Beach (Redskin / Jolly Buoy)	Open
		Chidiya Tapu	Open
		Baratang	Open
		Mount Herriet	Open
		Rangat Part	Closed	Till Further Notice
		Mayabundar Part	Closed	Till Further Notice
		Diglipur (Ross & Smith Island)	Closed	Till further notice

Place	Activities	Name of Activities	Closed/Open	Remarks
Port Blair	Water Sports Activities	Snorkelling (North Bay)	Open	Snorkelling kit must be carry by the Guest
		Glass boat ride (North Bay)	Open
		Semi Submarine (North Bay)	Open
		Dolphin Glass Boat (North Bay)	Open
		Sofa Ride (North Bay)	Open
		Banana Ride (North Bay)	Open
		Sea Kart (Corbyn’s Beach)	Open
		Parasailing (North Bay & Corbyn’s Beach)	Open
		Scuba Diving (North Bay)	Open
		Sea Walk (North Bay)	Open
		Jet Ski (North Bay & Corbyn’s Beach)	Open

Place	Activities	Name of Activities	Closed/Open	Remarks
Havelock (Swaraj Dweep)	Beaches	Radhanagar Beach	Open
		Elephant Beach	Open	Snorkelling kit must be carry by the Guest
		Kalapathat Beach	Open
		Govind Nagar Beach	Open

Ferry Schedule for Tourists to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) & Neil Islands (Shaheed Dweep):

After such a long waiting, finally, the directorate of shipping services has given them permission to the Private Cruise/ Vessel on 3^rd August 2021 and declared the new schedule for Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) & Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). The directorate of shipping services has taken the decision based on the current situation in Andaman & Nicobar Island. They thought this decision will help to revive the Tourism activities in these Islands.

Now Makruzz only private cruise, operating from Port Blair to Havelock UP and Down. Govt. Ferry also running from Port Blair to Havelock and Neil Island Twice a week. But before starting the new season all the private cruises are decided to run their private cruise on all the sectors like; Port Blair to Havelock to Neil Island to Port Blair.

Important Note:

Compulsory Thermal screening of all Entry & Exit Points.
Compulsory face mask properly all time during onboard vessel.
Passengers should be reported at the boarding point at least 02hrs prior to departure.
Passengers must carry the COVID-19 (RTPCR/TNT) negative report.

In Andaman, available speed vessels are Makruzz, Makruzz Gold, Makruzz Pearl, Green Ocean, Green Ocean 1, Green Ocean 2, Sealink, Bhagyalaxmi & ITT Majestic Etc. If you are planning to travel to Andaman Tour Package, you can book your Private speed vessel tickets online by own.

General Tourism advisory for Tourist or Travellers:

1. The Tourism Activities are permitted only in South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman District except Nicobar District.

2. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with home co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years advised not to travel for tourism purposes.

3. Tourists/Visitors who are at higher risk due to some medical history are advised to take extra precautions.

4. Tourists/visitors shall minimize contact with other staff and visitors as far as possible and a zero contact policy should be followed at all tourist destinations.

5. All tourists/visitors shall be briefed by the hotel concerned about do's & don'ts to be mandatorily followed during their stay and movements.

6. While travelling tourists/visitors should wear a face mask and carry their own sanitiser and wet wipes for personal use.

7. At all tourist destinations, staff must wear a face mask and wash/sanitize hands regularly mandatorily while performing their duties.

8. Aarogya Setu App shall be mandatory for all incoming tourists/visitors.

9. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves the strict practise of covering one's mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues properly after use.

10. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatorily Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/ visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel's rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&%N Administration, on rate as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid 19 care centre on case to case basis. Other guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the airport (available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in and SOP) issued by the Airport Manager, VSI also need to follow.