The most discerning of travelers have once again voted Kerala as the Indian destination that best caters to and offers the most rewarding experience for families.
‘God’s Own Country’ has further entrenched itself as the best family destination in India at the prestigious Lonely Planet Magazine India (LPMI) Travel Awards 2016. Kerala has regularly won this distinction at the awards which is considered to be the final word in gauging the Indian traveller’s satisfaction.
Mr. U. V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism, received the award at a glittering awards show in Mumbai.
The annual awards, attended by the who’s-who of the Indian travel industry, showcase the best travel experiences available to Indians and also the best service providers, the preferred places to spend time and the destinations Indians most love to visit.
Kerala, described as a ‘tropical symphony’ where travelling is as easy and rewarding as a glide through its backwaters, was judged by the magazine’s readers as the ‘destination that makes it as easy and convenient as possible for one to travel with family, offering lots of attractions, activities and sensibly-priced accommodation and dining options, as well as having a local culture that’s friendly and caring towards children and senior citizens’.
Nominations for the awards were shortlisted by a panel of travel experts and professionals, following which, readers voted both online and in the magazine. Besides being judged the best place to take families on a holiday, Kerala was also nominated in the best destination for culture and for relaxation categories. There were 20 categories in all.
Kerala was ranked alongside the United Kingdom, which won the corresponding award for best international family destination for Indian travelers. UK is considered the State’s most important tourist market. Lonely Planet describes Kerala as ‘a world away from the frenzy of elsewhere, as if India had passed through the looking glass and is an altogether more laid-back place’.