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Kerala has clinched the big prize as India’s best destination for leisure at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2016.
Kerala bagged the award close on the heels of clinching two major popularity awards with the Lonely Planet magazine citing it as the best family destination in India and Travel + Leisure magazine listing it as a top honeymooners’ destination.
The state was voted the ‘Favourite Indian Leisure Destination’ of the year in a survey conducted by the international travel magazine. Kerala, which had won the runner-up prize in the same category in 2015, shared the top honour with Goa this year.
Mr. K. Radhakrishnan, Deputy Director, Kerala Tourism received the travel award at a glittering ceremony held at The Lodhi hotel in New Delhi. Mr. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Union Tourism, was the Chief Guest.
The annual awards, in their sixth year, honour the best in travel, tourism, and hospitality with winners in various categories picked by readers of the magazine through a voting process spanning two months.
“We are honoured to be recognised as a place to relax and rejuvenate by the travellers to our state. Kerala is known for its natural beauty and the state’s historical connections with many other parts of the world have contributed to its popularity as a top destination for leisure,” said Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala.
Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism, remarked that the award reaffirmed the state’s reputation for being a tourist’s paradise.
“Be it a stay on a houseboat on one of its numerous serene backwaters, relaxing on the pristine beaches, experiencing the bliss of village life, watching traditional art performances or relishing its lip smacking cuisine, Kerala offers a perfect all-in-one leisure experience to travellers from near and far. The options for leisure travel in Kerala are limitless,” Dr. Venu said.
“The award reflects the diversity of leisure-based offerings in Kerala today as well as the quality of their branding. Visitors looking to unwind here know they have an abundance of choices to pick from. The results of their positive experiences here have shown up through the state’s consistently strong showings at such prestigious tourism and travel awards,” said Mr. U.V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism.
