Kerala Tourism adjudged Best State Tourism Board at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards

Kerala Tourism once again reaffirmed its No. 1 position in India by clinching the Best State Tourism Board and the Best Travel Destination awards instituted by CNBC AWAAZ. The Minister for Tourism, Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan received the awards along with Dr. Venu V, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, from Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Smt. Ambika Soni, at a grand ceremony held at Intercontinental, The Eros, New Delhi on June 25th.

Receiving the awards Shri. Kodiyeri remarked that “it is Kerala’s focus on sustainable tourism that set the ball rolling for the state’s successful journey as one of Asia’s finest destinations.” He added that by positioning responsible tourism as a key priority initiative, Kerala Tourism seeks to enhance the socio-economic growth of Kerala and channel a major part of the revenue to the local communities engaged.

Thekkady, which was chosen as the Best Travel Destination – Wildlife & Nature, is one of the key destinations of Kerala where sustained tourism is being upheld in every aspect of development. A host of eco-tourism packages along with the adventurous Periyar Tiger Trail has made Thekkady a favourite with regular visitors and eco-tourists alike. Plans are also on to develop other destinations in Kerala under the strict guidelines of planned and sustainable tourism.

Acclaimed much for its transparent quality control systems, eco-friendly practices and long-term approach to tourism and tourists, Kerala serves as a model for the rest of the country. This is reflected in the various prestigious awards that have come its way, including the recent National award for the Best Performing Tourism State. The winners of the CNBC AWAAZ travel awards were determined by a comprehensive study on the travel industry, covering almost 20 categories across 10 major cities. This is perhaps the country’s most definitive and unique studies on the Indian Travel Industry.