Journal of Global Resources
Biannual International Peer-Reviewed Journal
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print)/2455-2445 (Online)

January 2021
Volume 07 (01)
Crossref DOI 10.46587

DOI: 10.46587/JGR.2021.v07i01.018

18
ICT BASED PREFERENCE GRADIENT MODEL- A STUDY FOR POST-PANDEMIC
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT IN ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
S. RajiLecturer, Civil Engineering Department,
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Port Blair, A&N Islands, India
Email: rajipradeepportblair@gmail.com
Abstract: This paper is an attempt to illustrate application of Information andCommunication Technology (ICT) framework as an implement for focusing sustainable
livelihood, in post pandemic period, through resource management in a tourism
dependent economy of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The pandemic as elsewhere has
affected the economy of the Islands and therefore, post pandemic trade and business will
require change in the paradigm of operational strategies. The internet deficient territory
was dependent on macro level enterprises at mainland for supply of business whereas,
now the new digital highway link between mainland India and the Islands have envisaged
the diffusion of ICTs in micro level enterprises which can be linked through various
societal levels for crafting extensive network of Management Information System (MIS).
The paper recommends for ICTs based structure that can be inherently used in all trades,
comprising of both macro and micro level enterprises, contributing to the tourism based
economy of the Islands. The framework is proposed to merge all strata of businesses,
forming the tourism activity chain, by ICT applications thus the flow of information can beshared with a large MIS enabling optimum usage of peripheral facilities in all touristintensive islands of the territory. The study drew the conclusion that, in the age of climatechange and pandemic challenges, an institutional framework in the form of Information
and Communication Technology Network Framework (ICTNF) and Preference GradientModel (PGM) is essentially required to link formal and non-formal centre of population tocreate sustainable livelihood.
Key word: ICT, MIS, Environment, Economy, Livelihood, Ecosystem, ICTNF, PGM
Introduction
Many a researchers have emphasised the application of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) to assess the livelihood framework (e.g., Albu and Scott 2001;
Chapman et.al.2001; Info Dev 2005). In all such explorations the livelihood framework
was made to adapt ICT oriented analysis. Initially the purposes of all such
experimentations were to understand and evaluate the causes of poor livelihood
conditions leading to poverty and to offer a pragmatic approach to investigate theconditions. The outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic has affected the socioeconomic set up ofcommunities disrupting the economic growth and business environment (Das Rakshit
et.al. 2020). These islands are no different in receiving the impact of downturn in its
tourism business due to lockdowns and pandemic related closures. The union territory ofAndaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands have known for its historic background in Indian
freedom struggle and for tourism opportunities. Thus, tourism being the only industry
feeds microenterprises and related livelihood opportunities. Since microenterprises haveknown for their significant contribution towards socio-economic development (Qureshi,2005; Ritchie & Brindley, 2005) for any community or region therefore strategies need to143be designed for their survival and growth in post pandemic period. The islands unlike theother part of the world, were deficient in internet facilities. The laying of undersea cableforming the digital highway between mainland India and Island capital of Port Blair has
unlocked the otherwise foreseen opportunities which can revolutionise the digital
intrusion. Therefore, an Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) supported
framework strategy will now augment economic sustainability and environment
management in post pandemic scenario. The paper aims to provide a contribution totheorizing Information and Communication Technology Network Framework (ICTNF) as asuitable framework of analysis, taking a case study of traffic and tourism related livelihood
conditions of a well sought tourist destination, Swaraj (erstwhile Havelock) Island, as animportant potential area where application of ICT framework can create a sustainable
environment for economic activities.
Objectives
The paper is structured as follows, the first section presents a brief review concerning
micro environment components of the study area which is diffusing ecosystem witheconomy. The following section outlines the principal components of the livelihood
framework and matrix with the role of information and communication in livelihood
analysis and MIS for monitoring and management. A number of MIS system has been
incorporated into the framework taking into consideration the pandemic situation andemploying a socio technical approach that prioritizes a linkage of information andcommunication flow for taking appropriate decisions for resources utilisation andlivelihood. Further, Preference Gradient Matrix (PGM) is also proposed to deal withovercrowding of road and travel infrastructure.
Macro and Micro Environment of Livelihood in Swaraj (Havelock) Island
There are two types of microenterprise occupation and (Duncombe and Heeks 2002;Shaw 2004) that are survivalist and entrepreneurs. Survivalists are drawn into businessenterprise by the lack of other income generating activities. In Swaraj (Havelock) Island,as shown in Figure-1, as similar to other tourist focussed islands of A & N Islands, theMacro environment created by the entrepreneurs outline the majority of microenterprises
diffusing the fragile ecosystem of the islands with economy. They are commonly locatedin those islands where tourism offers livelihood opportunities to the local population andthus they form macro environment. In addition to macro and micro entrepreneurs there
are typically unregistered occupants earning livelihood with services related to tourism
activities viz; fishing, tourist vehicle services, commercial transport and construction who
constitute what is generally termed as “informal sector”. They are commonly founded
upon the direct services to tourists creating microenvironment.
The “seasonality” of tourism industry in A&N Islands is another critical factor(MoTAC-Department of Tourism, 2003) which will have major impact on livelihood andeconomic environment in near future due to ongoing pandemic. Both south-west andnorth-east monsoon contributes an annual rainfall over 3000 mm to A&N Islands. The
climate change concerns like receding monsoons, cyclones and related impact on modesof travel mainly restricts the tourism season for 5 to 6 months a year (November to April).
Therefore, tourism options/ season for round the year need to be strategized to survive
the economic fissure created by pandemic. Entrepreneurial enterprises may employ
skilled manpower and use more IT related technologies for business gain. On the otherhand, survivalist enterprises may use smart devices- mobiles/apps for linking livelihood
activities through ICT based MIS framework. Thus, informal sector will interact more
effectively with established local markets whereas the formal sector can connect tomainland and global markets. There is also various scope of creating effective macromicro links through livelihood approach framework (Schulpen and Gibbon 2002). The
segmental process showing the existing inter –relation between these two sectors
dominating the Island economy can be understood from Figure-2144

Figure 01: Swarajdeep (Havelock Island)

Figure 02: Segmented Process Showing Relation Between Formal and Informal
SectorDiffusion in
Ecosystem

Diffusion in
EconomyThe Macro-Micro environment can be approached and evaluated analytically aswell as functionally (Richard Duncombe,2007). The analytical role focuses on accessing
and assessing empirical evidence (both quantitative and qualitative) to understandlivelihoods -by researchers, project/program planners and policy makers. However, the145

functional role focuses on action –the manner in which information is used withinlivelihood strategies by themselves for the structures and processes that impinge theirlives and to create favourable outcomes. Thus analytical and functional role can bemerged with ICT tools to enhance the productivity and to maintain an MIS for keeping acheck on anthropogenic activities affecting the fragile environment of these islands.
Factors contributing to Tourism Economy in Swaraj (Havelock) Island
The inflow of capital happens along the Tourism Value Chain (MoTAC-Department ofTourism, 2003). This framework comprises a common platform viz; infrastructure andother requirements, for both macro and micro level enterprises for their capital inflow.
Thus inter and intra level diffusion of service and other tourism related activities within thechain make macro and micro level enterprises mutually dependent. The Tourism Vale
Chain as shown in Figure-3 has four levels.
Figure 03: Tourism Activity Chain

Source: MoTAC-Department of Tourism, 2003

Among all the permissible tourist destinations of A&N Islands-Swaraj (Havelock)
Island is the favourite destination for both national and international tourist visiting theunion territory (Nagabhatla Nidhi et.al.2004). The pristine beaches, rated as one of thebest beaches in the world, under -sea coral reef and open zone of surrounding shallow
waters are the major attractions of this Island. Island location with its tourist attractions
envisaged development of good quality infrastructure in the island. The sudden surge intourist inflow propagated the “Economic leakages” (MoTAC-Department of Tourism,2003) which is very common in small island economy, viz; travel and related facilities
planned and managed by non-islanders and non-locals from mainland. Further, discoveryof tourism potential of Swaraj (Havelock) Island by established enterprises of mainland
created macro environment which comprises the initial steps of tourism chain. The tourist
inflow and the subsequent vehicle population forecast carried out before the pandemic isshown in Figure 4.
The upper level of tourism chain in turn was fed by local survivalist enterprisers
and the process set off the burden on limited resources available in the small island. It
included over plying of tourist vehicles surpassing the capacity of rural roads in theislands, loss of farming land, overcrowding of existing tourism facility and related
environment pollution viz; plastic waste accumulation, drinking water scarcity etc. show
Therefore, ICT tools can play an important role in forming the framework of MIS for
regulating the developmental as well as economical activities in the island during the post
pandemic phase.

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Figure 04: Forecast for Non-Islander tourist and vehicle population in Swaraj(Havelock) Island

ICT Application for Macro-Micro Environment
The bottom up modal livelihood measures need to be adopted from micro level, whereindividuals, families, households, or groups create their own e- strategies within given
context of vulnerability. The vulnerability can be in context of prevailing regulations/
government policies, change in tourism pattern, Climate change conditions, resource
availability and economical opportunities. Therefore, ICT providers need to understandthe key analytical role of vulnerable factors focussing the functional role that involves
communicating information to primary respondents. If the respondents are themselves
going to be the recipients of such contextual information (or any type of information otherthan vulnerability context) to make livelihood and enhancing productivity by use of it, thenit must be assured that they require more than delivery data. This can be achieved byapplying Information and Communication Technology Network Framework (ICTNF), as
shown in Figure -5, firstly by creating the database of existing environmental details andthereby providing the MIS for Macro and Micro Enterprises to adopt new e-economic ande-service based livelihood. Further, the framework should have in-built monitoring system
to check the threshold of resources and accordingly policies and guidelines should beframed for attaining sustainability in both natural and economic environments.
Figure 05: Information and Communication Technology Network Framework(ICTNF)

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The study also attempted for proposing an ICT based Preference Gradient Model(PGM), as shown in Figure-6, adopting ICT to explicate the types of tourist and theirpreferences for transport facility by creating four levels of preference gradient to envisage
the expected service and to regulate the green concept in visiting tourists.
Figure 06: Preference Gradient Model (PGM)

Thus mapping of existing resources (including physical, monetary and social) willallow accessibility to realistic information to formal sector as well as survivalist informal
sector. n. Thus, ICT applied framework and matrix can be exercised for monitoring andchecking the vulnerability of the individual livelihood within the system as well as withrespect to the environment. The proposed ICTNF will involve the critical parameters
affecting environment and livelihood and can be adopted in other tourist inflicted islandsof the territory.
Conclusion
There is an array of applications of ICT tools which can be employed to strategise
synchronization of extractive natured livelihood and biodiversity dependent economy ofthese islands. Firstly, the ICT applications mentioned in the paper can be initiated forformal sector and after creating awareness about the e-based MIS system, the same canbe applied to informal sector – the survivalists who are mainly dependent on the macroenvironment. Therefore, in the era of internet and smart technologies ICT can easily
intrude into macro-micro environment of livelihood and the factors affecting sustainability
can be measured, monitored and regulated accordingly. Environment resource depletionand utilisation impact assessment through ICT will assist in prediction of future prospectsof economical activities and in framing policies to sustain effective livelihood.
Future Scope
Various model/system such as Preference Gradient Matrix, as proposed for transportfacilities, can be designed and implemented for other sectors such as water supply andsanitation, waste management and use of renewable energy. Planning and designingsystems for adoption of Green Construction and reducing carbon foot print can be further
explored in future course of research to attain sustainable growth of tourism industry in
the union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
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