Tourism News

Best Green Destination Award for Kerala

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 248 - April 2014

Kerala has bagged the ‘Best Green Destination’ award given by the Travel + Leisure South Asia magazine as part of its India's Best Awards 2013. Besides the ‘Best Green Destination’ in India award, Kerala also received the ‘Best Indian State’ award.

The awards were presented by the Ambassador of Portugal to India, Mr. Jorge Roza de Oliveira, at a glittering ceremony held at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on 31st March. The award ceremony was attended by well-known personalities from the travel and hospitality sector. In its third year, India’s Best Awards were decided by the Travel + Leisure South Asia magazine on the basis of online readers’ poll, conducted over a period of five months.

"It is an inspiring award for Kerala because we are committed to preserve our cultural heritage," said Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala. 

"Responsible Tourism is the guiding philosophy and policy of Kerala Tourism. Eco-friendly tourism with the participation of the local communities is the principal objective of the State government and all its stakeholders,” said Mr. Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, who received the awards in New Delhi.

Earlier this year, Kerala Tourism had won the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO’s) Ulysses award for sustainable tourism; the first such award for an Indian tourism board. And it was only just last month that Kerala Tourism bagged the Golden City Gate gold award of ITB-Berlin; the world’s leading tourism and travel trade event for its print media campaign on backwaters. Kerala also won three top National Tourism awards for 2012-13.