Tourism Threatens the Environment in India’s Andaman Islands.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands an entryway into a world of pristine beaches and natural wonder, they are also home to wonderful people.Tanaz Noble is one of them. The 29 year-old is a certified instructor of kayaking who not only trains tourists in water sports but also promotes ecological and environmental preservation. In an interview with The Diplomat, she said that “the ecosystem in Andaman is very beautiful but very fragile and delicate. What I have seen underwater 20 years ago as a child is dead due to the tsunami in 2004 and global warming. Earlier it was easy to see coral life within three meters [of the surface]; now you have to dive 20 meters to see coral life.”

Tourism has improved the local economy and a majority of locals make their livings in the industry. However, for Tanaz Noble, who makes a living entertaining tourists, the unbridled entry of tourists into the Islands is both an opportunity and a threat.

The Diplomat