Tourism News
State Tourism Awards 2012-13 declared
State Tourism Awards 2012-13 were declared by Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala.
The Kochi based Lotus Destination Pvt. Ltd. and Riya Holidays bagged the honours in the best In-Bound Tour Operator and Out-Bound Tour Operator categories respectively. Winner of the award for the best Five-Star Deluxe Hotel is Vivanta by Taj Malabar, Kochi while that of the best Five-Star Hotel is Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kottayam. The award for the best Four-Star Hotel went to Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa. In the best Three-Star Hotel category Marari Beach Resort bagged the honours, while Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom bettered the rest in the Heritage Resort category.
The award for the best Approved Ayurvedic Resort went to Somatheeram Beach Resort Pvt. Ltd, Kovalam and the best Homestay award to Graceful Homestay, Thiruvananthapuram. Rainbow Cruises, Alappuzha has been adjudged the best Approved Houseboat Operator.
The Naalumanikkattu project initiated by Kottayam M E B Residents’ Association & the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences has been adjudged as the Most Innovative Project, while Somatheeram Ayurveda Group in Thiruvananthapuram has picked the Most Innovative Use of Information Technology award. The award for the best Tourism and Hotel Management Institute went to Oriental School of Hotel Management at Lakkidi in Wayanad, while Wonderla, Kochi has been adjudged the best Tourist Destination.
In the individual segment, Mr. P. Subramanian, Manager of Marari Beach bagged the award for the best Hotel Manager, while the award for the best Tourism Reporter went to Dr. K. C. Krishnakumar, Chief Sub-Editor of Mathrubhumi, Yatra Magazine. The best Tourism Photography award has been shared by Mr. B. Muralikrishnan, Chief News Photographer of Mathrubhumi newspaper and Mr. Ajosh Parakkan of Kochi respectively.
Mr. Sathyan, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, Edakkad Police Station, Kannur and Mr. Sanal Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, Kochi Tourism Police are the joint winners of the best Tourism Police award while Mr. N. R. Ajaya Kumar of Thalassery and Mr. Subair Elamkulathu of Kalpetta shared the award for the best Tourist Guide.
Ms. Unnimaya Muraleedharan of Aluva St. Xaviers Women’s College bagged the award for the Best Tourism Student Coordinator, while Mr. K G Ashok Kumar of Kottarakkara Tamarakudi Sivavilasom HSS has been adjudged the best Teacher Coordinator. The Tourism Club at Aluva St. Xaviers Women’s College bagged the award for the Best Tourism Club. Mr. Charlson of Kannur is the winner of the best Tourist Lifeguard award.
