Kerala   

State bags awards for tourism promotion

John L. Paul

KOCHI: Kerala, which is recognised nationally as a model for tourism promotion, is learnt to have won six awards, including for overall tourism promotion, instituted by the Union Government.

Sources in the State Tourism Department told The Hindu that the awards would be formally announced soon. Kerala won the award for overall tourism promotion, best literature on tourism (handbook on Ayurveda) and the award for meticulously carrying out renovation work of Shaktan Tampuran's ancestral house. The awards will be given away in New Delhi on February 2.

In the private sector, Brunton Boatyard, Kochi, has won the national award in the three-star category. Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, has won the award for being the best conservation and heritage hotel.

The awards will be presented to the winners at a function in New Delhi on February 2.

"We have reached the threshold of tourism promotion. Thus, it is important that we keep innovating," said Additional Director, Kerala Tourism, Asok Kumar Singh. Examples of novel products launched by Kerala Tourism last year include the Vazhiyoram project, renovation of the Chennamangalam synagogue and initiatives in renovating heritage structures in Kannur and Kozhikode.

"This year, we plan to set in motion the pilgrim-tourism circuit. Medical and Ayurveda tourism are set to get a boost in Kerala. "We have prepared the groundwork for this. Potential markets such as West Asia, which have cultural links with Kerala, have been identified. We are careful not to undertake run-of-the-mill schemes," Mr. Singh said. No other State has such varied tourism activities as Kerala. Conservation of heritage is a major focus of Kerala Tourism. We are also aware of the need to promote sustainable tourism, he said.

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