It is a great achievement for the Kerala Government, as Kerala Tourism bags the award for the “World’s best responsible tourism project” at the World Travel Mart 2017 held in London. Mr Kadakampally Surendran, the tourism minister of Kerala, received the award for Kerala’s responsible tourism project at the backwater destination, Kumarakom. Kerala Tourism has done a fantastic job implementing responsible tourism in style, safeguarding the interests of local people and conserving the environment. The project has been successful in providing many job opportunities for local people while preserving their traditional way of life and bringing it to life for winged tourists —a real Indian village experience.
This prestigious award joins the lot of numerous other national and international awards bagged by Kerala Tourism for the Kumarakom project. This includes the United Nations’ UNWTO Ulysses Prize, Pacific Asia Travel Association’s [PATA] Grand and Gold awards and five national awards from the year 2007. The major theme of Kerala Tourism this time at WTM 2017 was the Kerala Backwaters. A 2-minute video recorded with the latest 360-degree technology and six cameras simultaneously was showcased at the event. The visitors enjoyed the same through a Virtual Reality Headset, virtually taking a tour of the mesmerising backwaters of Kerala.
Mr Kadakampally also launched Kerala Tourism’s latest project, ‘Ayurbodha,’ which aims to merge the divine techniques of Ayurveda with tourism. The travellers who opt for this program would not only enjoy Kerala’s immense beauty but also return home rejuvenated. The Ayurbodha programs will be available at KTDC [Kerala Tourism Development Council] hotels across Kerala.
South Tourism, is now merged with Cholan Tours, a leading Destination Management Company
