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Kerala Tourism and stakeholders in the private sector together bagged 12 National Tourism Awards instituted by the Union Ministry of Tourism. Kerala Tourism bagged three out of the six awards in the marketing category for States and two more awards, including one for its Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative. Of the 12, seven went to private players.
Mr. A. C. Moideen, Minister for Tourism, Kerala said that Responsible Tourism in Kerala, has emerged as an innovative tourism product for the entire nation. “Kerala is being lauded for the brilliant marketing initiatives it had launched to attract domestic as well as foreign travellers”, he said.
The National Tourism Awards were presented by Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker in the presence of Mr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism at a function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Mr. U.V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism received the awards for Kerala.
Kerala Tourism’s innovative marketing strategies won three of the six awards for the States in the Tourism Promotion and Publishing category; including the one for ‘the most innovative use of Information Technology’ - Social Media / Mobile App. The tourism initiative in Wayanad was selected for the award in the Responsible Tourism category. Sargaalaya Arts and Crafts Village at Iringal, a village in Kozhikode district, won the award for Kerala Tourism in the Rural Tourism project category.
Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism said that winning five awards and seven in the private players' category was a tremendous feat. “The awards were a recognition for the innovative marketing strategies and the use of technology to position Kerala as a tourist-friendly destination,” he said.
Mr. U. V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism said that winning the national awards close on the heels of winning two Pacific-Asia Travel Association awards was a boost to Kerala's profile as a coveted tourist destination.
‘Kerala and the Spice Routes’, a coffee-table book developed by Stark Communications won the award for ‘Excellence in Publishing’ in English language. ‘The Great Backwaters’, a brochure in German language, was adjudged for the award in foreign language segment. The website of Kerala Tourism developed and maintained by Invis Multimedia and social media managed by Stark Communications won the award for the ‘most innovative use of Information technology’. Kerala Tourism has 12.8 lakh Facebook followers, the largest for any Tourism Board in India.
Hoteliers, tour operators and an Ayurveda centre bagged the other seven awards. The awards bagged by the private players: Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam, was the adjudged the ‘Best Hotel’ in the Five Star category; Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, bagged the award for ‘Best Heritage Hotel’ in Classic Category; Coconut Creek Farm and Homestay, Kumarakom, was given the award for ‘Best Incredible India Bed & Breakfast Establishment’ approved by State Governments / Union Territory Administrations’ and Somatheeram Research Institute & Ayurveda Hospital Pvt. Ltd, Thiruvananthapuram, was declared the ‘Best Wellness Centre’.
Kochi-based M/s Lotus Destinations Pvt. Ltd got the award for ‘Best Tour Operator’ promoting Niche Segments other than Adventure and MICE; M/s Kalypso Adventures (P) Ltd, also based in Kochi, received the award for ‘Best Inbound Tour Operator / Travel Agent’ and Kochi-based M/s Dravidian Trails Holidays Pvt. Ltd got a Third Prize in the category of ‘Best Inbound Tour Operator / Travel Agent’.
