Tourism News
Winners Announced for Kerala Tourism’s 3rd International Children's Painting Competition
Kerala Tourism has declared the winners of its 3rd International Online Painting Competition for Children, which received an overwhelming 57,308 entries from 132 countries. Themed "Kerala's Village Life," the competition aimed to highlight Kerala’s rich cultural heritage and rural tourism experiences, attracting global participation and reinforcing the state’s reputation as a premier travel destination.
The winners were selected across three categories: foreign countries, other Indian states, and Kerala. Steven David (Bangladesh) won in the international category, Madhuri Singh (Rajasthan) in the other Indian states category and Varnana Ratheesh in the Kerala category. Winners and their families will be treated to a five-day tour of Kerala’s most scenic destinations, concluding with an award ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.
The competition, open to children aged 4 to 16, served as a creative campaign to promote Kerala globally. A total of 46,066 children from 132 countries participated, with 4,620 entries from abroad, 46,464 from other Indian states, and 6,224 from within Kerala. Shri. P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, noted that the enthusiastic response demonstrated Kerala’s appeal as a cultural and responsible tourism destination. He added that the competition’s theme helped introduce young artists to the beauty of Kerala’s village life, further strengthening the state’s international tourism brand.
The competition saw ten winners from foreign countries, including participants from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Germany, China, and the UK. Winners from Indian states such as Odisha, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu also earned top honors, while Kerala-based winners will receive exclusive stays at Kerala Tourism Development Corporation's (KTDC) premium hotels.
Kerala Tourism Secretary K. Biju emphasized that the record-breaking participation reflected Kerala’s growing popularity as a global travel destination. Smt. Sikha Surendran, Director, Kerala Tourism, highlighted that the competition, promoted in 24 languages (including 14 foreign languages), reached an estimated seven million people worldwide.
Apart from recognising young artistic talent, Kerala Tourism also awarded top promoters who played a key role in increasing participation. International honorees included representatives from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Romania, Russia, and the UK. Indian promoters from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra were also acknowledged. These promoters will be invited to Kerala for a five-day tour as a token of appreciation.
A screening committee initially reviewed 2,000 shortlisted paintings and a panel of expert judges selected the final winners. A total of 103 awards, including 22 foreign, 30 Indian, and 20 Kerala-based consolation prizes were distributed. The first edition in 2014 saw 4,169 participants from 37 countries, while the 2018 edition recorded 48,390 entries from 133 countries, showcasing the competition’s rapid growth over the years.
With this edition marking a new milestone in global participation, Kerala Tourism continues to use innovative campaigns to strengthen its international outreach and cultural promotion.
