The foundation for Andaman Discoveries lies in the work of North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR), a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 to rehabilitate villages affected by the 2004 tsunami.

The foundation for Andaman Discoveries lies in the work of North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR), a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 to rehabilitate villages affected by the 2004 tsunami. Founder Bodhi Garret, started the organization to help villagers realize long-term social, environmental, and economic returns through the combination of eco-tourism and income generation. Andaman Discoveries was then established in 2007 to continue NATR's work, after Garrett determined that a for-profit structure would be the best way to increase business efficiency, ensure accountability, and reduce aid dependency. Since then, the company has worked in partnership with more than 12 communities to implement community-based tourism projects including community-based tours, study and service trips, and volunteer opportunities related to communities and environmental conservation. Though Andaman Discoveries helps communities leverage tourism to assist with income generation, Garrett makes it clear that the company is also there to help villagers become self-sustainable so that they are not completely dependent on tourism. In this regard, Andaman Discoveries approaches communities with a "toolkit" to help villagers determine their own needs and wants, design programs and activities to promote small business and community development, and offer villagers training (e.g. English classes) and technical assistance to help set up their businesses or community activities. In seeking to increase the economic activity of tsunami-affected villages, Andaman Discoveries has earned close to $100,000 in revenue ($65,000 of which comes directly from tourism revenue) in the 2009 financial year, much of which covers program costs and goes back to the communities with which it works. In the next three to five years, Andaman Discoveries hopes to further reduce the amount of grants it currently takes in (around 30% of its revenue), provide more capacity building services to villages it works with, and expand the number of communities in which it offers community-based tourism services and channels tourists and volunteers.

The foundation for Andaman Discoveries lies in the work of North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR), a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 to rehabilitate villages affected by the 2004 tsunami.

The foundation for Andaman Discoveries lies in the work of North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR), a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 to rehabilitate villages affected by the 2004 tsunami.

• Related links
• External links